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PEER: NPS Superintendent In Sexual Harassment Case Transferred To Larger Park

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Despite the National Park Service's pledge to take a zero tolerance approach to sexual harassment incidents, a park superintendent accused of inappropriate behavior against a female employee was transferred to a larger park and had received a cash bonus, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

An investigation of the charges by the Interior Department's Office of Inpsector General found credence in the allegations against DeSoto National Memorial Superintendent Jorge Acevedo, and also uncovered a number of other inappropriate issues for the manager. While the case was referred for prosecution, the U.S. attorney's office declined.

The OIG report, released this past March, said the superintendent "touched the employee inappropriately, made inappropriate comments, and invaded the employee’s personal space. The employee informed us that this contact and attention were unwanted, and that the employee had asked the official many times to stop. The official acknowledged touching the employee and confirmed that the employee had asked him to stop, which he said he did."

PEER on Monday said that since the OIG report became public, Mr. Acevedo was transferred to a position as "partnerships manager" for Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site and Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail at his previous salary, and that before the transfer he received a $1,000 performance bonus. 

National Park Service officials in Washington did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment.

It was a year ago when the Park Service announced a zero tolerance policy when it comes to sexual harassment in the agency. 

"Some have asked what it means for the National Park Service to have a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment," then-Park Service Director Jon Jarvis said when he explained the policy in a memo emailed system-wide. "I want to clearly state that this means that when incidents of harassment are reported, I expect NPS managers to follow up on those allegations. Specifically, in situations involving alleged harassment, including sexual harassment, I expect NPS managers to initiate an investigation of the allegations and to act promptly to ensure that the harassment, if confirmed, does not continue. I also expect appropriate disciplinary action to be taken if any allegations are verified."

Last September the Park Service's then-deputy director, Mike Reynolds, now the agency's acting director, told the House Oversight Committee during a hearing into harassment in the National Park System that the Park Service had a sound strategy for ridding its 20,000-employee workforce of sexual harassment issues but that "this kind of change is neither easy nor fast."

“If, as the Park Service claims, there is zero tolerance, then why aren’t these firing offenses?” asked PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch on Monday, arguing that the “message points” praising Acevedo re-victimized his victims.  “Instead of zero tolerance, the Park Service accords double-digit tolerance to its managers.”

Comments

Attitudes and behaviors in the the National Park Service will never change, and discrimination, harassment, and retaliation will not stop until someone at the top begins to punish and discipline those who violate laws, regulations, and federal standards....no matter who they are or what grade level. In spite of previous promises and guarantees, superintendents and supervisors who violate laws and regulations--even those who are found guilty by the Office of the Inspector General or by the Office of Special Council---are virtually never prosecuted (even though prosecution often is recommended), they are rarely disciplined (or they get a minimal of two weeks of suspended pay), and they often seem to be promoted or transferred to positions that are better than the one they had. Why? And what will it take to change this? To be sure, has anything changed....even after all the promises and new "zero tolerance" policies" were publicized? We've often heard that it's hard to "fire" people....but it can be done if the proper steps are taken. And when people are transferred, why are they so often transferred to better positions? Why not to some remote isolated place? Alas...it seems nothing has changed since we had our FOIA and whistleblower experiences .... www.schundler.net .


This Superintendent only received a $1000 performance award after being nailed for sexual harassment?  "Zero tolerance" seems to mean that he was entitled to at least a Quality Step Increase for misconduct.  Somebody screwed up.  That's the way it worked when I was employed by the NPS, and by all indications things have only become worse.


WTF!  This kind of thing makes me so angry, and so disappointed, with the NPS.  To what larger park did this cretin get transferred?  Or is that DeSoto National Memorial the place?


I have been managing large staffs for 30+ years, and durning that time twice I was accused of Sexual Harassment. Both times the clams were found to be unwarranted, and were unwarrented. Once for patting a female on the shoulder for a job well done, as I did with all staff. (Now I never touch anyone, and I'm criticized for being impersonal), and another time for awarding a job to a male. Our management staff was 60% female and 40% male, so the position went to the best qualified candidate. My point is, all situations need to be investigated. Sexual Harassment goes in many directions. Male to Female, Male to Male, Female to Female or Male etc. Real harassment must never be tolerated!!!


In the NPS system many superintendents have the attitude that they are untouchable and above repremand. While I realize that they are the # 1 authority in their specific park, there is the air that even regional or Washington will not buck a superintendent. Another concern is that it is well known that park service employees will not be fired under almost any curcumstance. If you are a concessionaire or someone that has to deal with park service and you go above a middle persons head, to the hiarchy, they can make your life hell. I have observed it. The NPS has allowed this to take ploace for many decades. Like everyone else, they need to be held accountable and not the omnipetent figures that they think they are.


Mirroring the embarrassment that is our commander in chief, American culture rewards bad behavior through promotion.


apparently the supervisors and managers of the NPS are afforded the same security and "sweep under the rug" approval as the Catholic priests who sexually abuse children


Funny, how there's nothing ever mentioned about the hundreds of people who go missing in the "National Park system" every year. It's probably because that the Park and Forrest systems, "DO NOT" keep a record of people who go missing in their jurisdiction, there's no computer data base there's not even a clipboard and paper hanging up, that would say so and so went missing on this date in this area of the park. The Department of Interior knows that this is an on going problem, but don't want to get anywhere near it. Because they can't answer why, people go missing on their land's and are not found, like they weren't even there. Be safe out there stay in groups and in sight of each other. Don't go off ahead of your group, and don't be last in line.


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