The Virginian-Pilot
©
The chief of naval operations has chastised a captain and admiral for the way they handled hazing and harassment in a dog-handling unit in Bahrain and a related investigation that found widespread problems but resulted in no punishment.
Adm. Gary Roughead penned a "letter of counseling" to now-retired Vice Adm. Robert T. Conway, former head of Navy Installations Command and the highest-ranking officer to sign off on a June 2007 investigation into the abuse, Navy spokeswoman Cmdr. Elissa Smith said Wednesday.
Roughead's letter noted that Conway should have done more to determine what officers in his chain of command knew about the hazing allegations, what they did to address them and how they followed up on the matter.
The investigation documented more than 90 incidents of harassment of junior sailors assigned to the kennel, including some being force-fed dog treats, locked in a kennel and ordered to simulate oral sex during a training video.
When Conway endorsed the investigation, he asked that its findings be forwarded to the commands of implicated sailors who were transferred before it was complete. There's no record of that happening, so Roughead ordered eight sailors be counseled by superiors "to ensure their awareness of the Navy's policy on hazing."
The kennel master at the center of the abuse - Chief Petty Officer Michael Toussaint - was later promoted. His second-in-command, Petty Officer 1st Class Jennifer Valdivia, killed herself in Bahrain in early 2007 as the investigation was wrapping up.
Smith said Roughead also issued a letter of counseling to Capt. Gary Galloway, commanding officer of the Bahrain base from mid-2005 through mid-2006. Galloway is now assigned to Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in San Diego.
Smith said Roughead's letter to Galloway noted that when senior officers observe sailors behaving questionably, they must quickly and firmly verify the nature of their behavior and ensure prohibitions against hazing are enforced.
Letters of counseling are not punitive and don't become part of a sailor's permanent record.
Still, because Conway's and Galloway's letters carry the signature of the Navy's top officer, they offer a symbolic rebuke.
Roughead also sent a message to all Navy flag officers reminding them to make sure investigations are complete and people are held accountable.
U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania, a retired Navy admiral who asked Navy officials to review the case, was pleased that Roughead looked hard at the actions of senior officers. Using the case as an example will help the Navy be more transparent and accountable, he said.
"I believe that when there is responsibility, that there is also accountability and not only at the junior level," Sestak said in a statement.
Toussaint, currently assigned to administrative duties at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, soon will retire. Roughead had earlier decided to vacate Toussaint's re-enlistment. A pay-grade determination board will meet Feb. 4 to recommend at which pay grade he will retire.
Kate Wiltrout, (757) 446-2629, kate.wiltrout@pilotonline.com
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the system didn't work.
The system is pretty far from working.
People have been accused of criminal activity and tried in the press.
There has been nothing close to justice in this case.
This is a knee jerk reaction because of the press associated with Mr. Rocha's accusations.
The accused should have the opportunity to face their accusers and defend themselves and not in the newspaper.
Actions of The Accused Warrant Lawful Reaction
This 'system' will work when it is provided for in the blinding light of the full truth in a legal forum/courtroom. You do not and could not have enough factual information, particularly regarding the history of character regarding the accused and his 'supervising' Officers who swept this matter under the rug to make the assertions of a 'knee jerk reaction' and that 'nothing close to justice' has occured. I was stationed at one of Mr. Toussaint's previous duty stations and his behavior at that Naval Station pre-dated the lack of fairness, decency, sound judgment and total lapse in leadership that occured in Bahrain. I hope the board that meets February 4th decides that Mr. Toussaint gets ZERO retirement, and other than honorable discharge or if the board finds that too harsh, that he be retired at paygrade E-3, as Toussaint was obviously never fit to wear the uniform of a Petty Officer in the first place. A subordinate Petty Officer died in this situation, and clearly her death was influenced by the experience of working in this environment. Think about that - death is forever.
Rest well, Jennifer.....
What is done in the dark, always comes to the light.
Glad the system worked
The Capt needs to go ahead and retire since his reputation is tainted and he will not be promoted. The E-8 was promoted based on false evaluations given during the offense; that promotion should be recinded and then he should face charges thereby reducing him to E-6. The military needs to send a clear message of responsibility and professionalism to all as a wake up call.