U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison fears that the sexual assault problem at Sheppard Air Force Base could “rival that of the U.S. Air Force Academy,” and has called on top Department of Defense officials to investigate.
In a Wednesday letter to Secretary of the Air Force James Roche, the Texas Republican asked for a DOD Inspector General inquiry into a string of sexual assaults at the Wichita Falls, Texas base and stressed that victims’ identities should be protected if they come forward to discuss their cases.
“Both the number of incidents and the duration over which they occurred are unacceptable,” Hutchison wrote in her letter. “In fact, any incident is unacceptable. As a result, I request the Inspector General conduct a full and detailed investigation into the allegations.”
Hutchison’s letter came in response to a Wednesday Denver Post story reporting that two dozen women stationed at Sheppard had sought counseling at a civilian rape crisis center in Wichita Falls, Texas for assaults allegedly committed by 40 fellow service members.
Fearing retaliation, most of the women did not report the crimes to police, according to the crisis center officials. Sheppard also acknowledged that it had punished 42 Sheppard personnel since 1993 for sexual assault but did not disclose how they were disciplined.
Spokesmen for Roche’s office and Sheppard Air Force Base declined to respond to requests for interviews about Hutchison’s request. Representatives of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who last week ordered a sweeping investigation into how the military handles sexual assault cases, also did not respond to requests for comment.
Kevin Schweer, a spokesman for Hutchison, told The Post that the senator did not receive an immediate response.
“She also sent a copy to Sheppard,” Schweer said. “We have not heard back.”
The senator asked that the investigation emphasize how commanders have “concluded” cases at the base, the largest Air Force training center. She also requested that recent inquiries into the Air Force Academy be used as a model in terms of the confidentiality protections granted to victims.
“It is particularly important the women on the base be able to anonymously give the DOD Inspector General an assessment of the situation, as was done at the Air Force Academy to determine the depth of the problem,” Hutchison wrote. “We stand ready to help you in any way to help protect and serve the women who are bravely serving this nation.”
Laura Grimsinger, a former director of First Step, described Sheppard’s culture as wanting to “minimize sexual assault and not address it. They turn their backs on them (victims), and it’s devastating. The training schools are the big problem. These women are way outside their home element and have little support.”
