US Air Force Officer In Charge Of Sexual Assault Prevention Program, Arrested For Alleged Sexual Assault
The Air Force officer in charge of the military branch's sexual assault prevention program was arrested for sexual assault, ARLNow reported Monday. Stars and Stripes confirmed that Lt. Col Jeffrey Krusinski, the chief of the Air ForceSexual Assault Prevention and Response program, was arrested early Sunday in Arlington, Va.
According to Wired reporter Spencer Ackerman and NBC News, the Air Force has removed Krusinski from his post, pending an investigation into the allegations.
The Air Force has recently faced a number of sexual assault scandals, most notably at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. More than 30 training instructors and drill sergeants have been disciplined in the scandal, which is still under investigation. Almost 60 potential victims have come forward with reports of sexual abuse at the San Antonio training facility.
According to a Defense Department report, an estimated 19,000 members of the armed services were victims of sexual assault in 2011.
"Our core values and respect are the foundation of our wingman culture -- a culture in which we look out for each other and take care of each other," reads the description of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program on its website. "Incidents of sexual assault corrode the very fabric of our wingman culture; therefore, we must strive for an environment where this type of behavior is not tolerated and where all Airmen are respected."