PENNSYLVANIA Governor mulls investigator for sexual misconduct cases
The NOW president says an outside investigator may be needed.
HARRISBURG (AP) -- A promised outside review of sexual misconduct complaints against state police may not be needed, Gov. Ed Rendell said in a written statement issued Thursday.
Rendell said he will not decide whether to appoint a consultant to work with Inspector General Donald L. Patterson until after he reads Patterson's report, expected by Sept. 15.
Two months ago, when details of the misconduct allegations surfaced as part of a federal civil suit, Rendell said an outside consultant would be appointed "swiftly." In a six-paragraph release issued by a spokesman who declined any comment, Rendell defended his new approach.
"This is the process I have chosen," he said. "Those who have expressed premature criticism of our efforts are prejudging both the process and the results of the investigation."
Kathy Miller, president of the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Organization for Women, said an outside investigator might be better positioned to avoid political pressure.
"There have been so many charges and so many issues here that it seems we should have an independent review and stick with that," she said.
Other complaints
Sixty-eight of 163 complaints filed from 1995 through 2001 were determined to have merit, state police Commissioner Jeffery B. Miller said in late June.
That's when a federal judge overseeing the civil suit filed against former Trooper Michael K. Evans, now serving five to 10 years in prison for various crimes, ruled that details of other sexual misconduct complaints should be made public.
The suit, filed by Evans' victims, said allegations against state police include rape, sex with an underage girl and the sexual assault of a suspect in custody, although which of those allegations have merit, if any, is not clear.
State police said 14 employees were fired for sexual misconduct during the seven-year span that ended in 2001, although labor arbitrators later reinstated four of them. Eight people were charged criminally.
Full-time investigators
Patterson's office also issued a statement late Wednesday, saying 11 investigators were assigned full-time to the state police matter, with a focus on identifying "patterns and practices" and suggesting remedies.
"The investigation has not been aimed at ascertaining specific acts of sexual misconduct or establishing the culpability of individuals," Patterson's statement said.
Bruce A. Edwards, a state police sergeant and president of the 4,200-officer Pennsylvania State Troopers Association union, said the number of legitimate complaints is relatively small and does not justify bringing in the inspector general, much less an outside consultant.
"We didn't need an outsider looking into something that was totally investigated and dealt with," Edwards said. "But we understand political pressures."
Miller, who took office as police commissioner earlier this year, has ordered subordinates to tighten disciplinary processes for sexual misconduct complaints and is establishing an early intervention program to identify possible problems before they occur.