Can’t tolerate more failure to protect victims

A new investigation into how the Air Force Academy has recently handled reports of sexual assault rings all kinds of alarms.

A 560-page investigative report completed in late June found the school’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office was derelict in performance of its duties and that it bungled care for its victims.

According to The Gazette’s Tom Roeder, who recently gained the government report through the Freedom of Information Act, the intensely critical findings included a call for the office’s former boss to lose her job. Witnesses equated the office atmosphere to that of a toxic high school. The report details mishandled cases — some of the cadets who came forward were ignored — deplorable record-keeping, office infighting and romances and even a rumor mill that spread lurid details about victims.

The investigative report said the former director, Teresa Beasley, failed to manage the very basics. Witnesses described her as often a no-show, and said she spread a vicious rumor that one of the victims’ advocates was having sex with a victim.

“The amount of evidence demonstrating a lack of competency and ability in delivering professional victim care is overwhelming,” the investigation found. “It wouldn’t be feasible to try to rehash — or even summarize — all the issues and concerns borne out by witness testimony.”

The academy received 45 reports of sexual assault last year, a number higher than reports from the Naval and Military academies combined. However, Beasley’s office kept such terrible records it’s unclear whether even the numbers of reported assaults were accurate going back 10 years.

Such findings are especially troubling, given the academy’s long and troubled history in dealing with the scourge of sexual assault on its campus. Yet there appears to be some good news in this story: The academy acted quickly to remove its bad actors and is making solid progress in rebuilding the office and recommitting to the hard work of ensuring cadets are safe.

After receiving complaints about the office, the academy launched its investigation in early May. That report was completed by June 26. Over the next two days, four of the six members of the office were removed and replacements from other bases were on their way to make sure the office — the academy’s first line of care for victims — was able to continue its mission. Victims and the public, via press releases, were made aware of the findings and actions on the June 27.

Further, the academy is not only replacing office staff, but adding two new positions, as well as bolstering awareness training across campus.

“We recognize that this is the worst thing that has ever happened” to the victims, academy spokesman Lt. Col. Allen Herritage tells us in describing efforts to rebuild the office to regain cadet and public trust.

Cold comfort for those who found themselves neglected during the years leading to the June report. We share their outrage and disappointment. Reports of unusual problems regarding sexual assault on campus have plagued the academy for roughly two decades.

So while the corrective actions are meant to reassure, we certainly hope enough healthy skepticism remains to ensure that the incredible lack of oversight that allowed such an unconscionable failure to students not be allowed to continue.