The Casper Police Department will host the second and final public panel on sexual assault Wednesday, June 21. The series began after 30 women told the Casper City Council they believed the police neglected or mishandled their cases.
Members of the panel will include Casper Interim Chief of Police Steve Schulz and Natrona County District Attorney Mike Blonigen, along with representatives from the different agencies that deal with sexual assault, including the Self Help Center, Wyoming Medical Center, the Children’s Advocacy Project, and the police department’s Investigations Unit and Victim Services.
Casper Police Department’s John Hatcher said the event will not include an open Q&A discussion. Instead, panel members will answer questions submitted by the public at the first panel, and the discussion will look towards possible solutions to the investigative and legal challenges of sexual assault.
“It’s something we’re going to continue to work on, among all the agencies, not just the Casper Police Department, everyone involved with sexual assault or anything like that, a personal crime like that,” said Hatcher. “We want to make sure we’re doing due diligence.”
The event is Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m. at Durham Hall on Casper College’s campus.