U.S. Forest Service chief under investigation after complaints of sexual misconduct- PBS story

Chief Tony Tooke
Here’s the link.

The U.S. Forest Service has confirmed that the United States Department of Agriculture, its parent agency, has “engaged an independent investigator” to look into complaints against Chief Tony Tooke.

News of this investigation comes as the Forest Service is dealing with allegations of a broader culture of harassment and retaliation within its ranks, as detailed in an investigation published by the PBS NewsHour this week.

In the course of reporting its investigation, the PBS NewsHour discovered allegations of sexual misconduct against Tooke, specifically relationships with his subordinates, before he became chief.

In a statement, Forest Service press officer Babete Anderson said the investigation would “undertake a thorough review of [Tooke’s] conduct. We take very seriously the responsibility to promote a safe, respectful and rewarding work environment for all employees.”

When asked about the allegations, Tooke said in an email: “I’m in support of this investigation, and I have fully cooperated from the start. I expect to be held to the same standards as every other Forest Service employee.”

In an email to employees responding to the NewsHour’s original report, a spokesman from Tooke’s office said: “The stories the Forest Service employees shared during the PBS NewsHour piece are important to hear, difficult and heart-wrenching as they may be. Stories like these, which have come to light over the past few years, have underscored that there are elements of sexual harassment in the Forest Service that have existed and continue today.”

It continues: “While we have taken significant actions over the past several years to address sexual harassment in the Forest Service, we acknowledge that we have more work to do. These are critical issues that the Forest Service must continue to take on to increase our efforts to protect our fellow employees so they know they can speak up and speak out, without any fear of retaliation or reprisal. We continue to consult with outside experts and focus internal resources to help us better support victims of harassment during investigations. Victims must know that there will be accountability for persons who engage in sexual harassment and reprisal. We are committed to our duty to create a workplace that is respectful, rewarding, and above all, a safe place for all employees. The Forest Service is committed to permanently changing our culture to create the workplace we all deserve”

The statement, from Dan Jiron, acting deputy undersecretary for natural resources and the environment, did not mention Tooke.

(note, Dan Jiron is an FS employee and former Regional Forester for Region 2.) #whoneedspoliticalappointees?

15 thoughts on “U.S. Forest Service chief under investigation after complaints of sexual misconduct- PBS story”

  1. Geepers wonder what AS has to say bout this investigation. His opinion is this is not warranted since Chief Tooke did nothing wrong and tha FS condones this type of Predatory Behavior. As I recall this this is the first step I mentioned awhile back.

    Back in the day this would be handle accordingly.
    I suspect he will not be treated like any FS employee perhaps AS can pull some strings to get Chief Tooke a pass. Since he hasn’t done anything out of the ordinary.

    To quote AS “ I await your response “. Not that it matters.

    Reply
      • Sharon: – “Sorry, who is AS?”
        ===

        I don’t think this is too tough to figure, I believe Willie is referring to “Andy Stahl” whom both of you were sparing back and forth with a few weeks back on this very subject of sexual harassment vrs consentual sex , if I remember the subject content for that post correctly.

        Reply
  2. So Sharon is the statement from the FS or from the Under Secretary office. Seems odd that the folks working for the Chief (under investigation) would put out. Press Release.

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  3. As I went back to look, it looks like the FS sent out the statement with Dan’s signature. I received this email that went to all employees..

    Good Afternoon,

    Below is our official response to Part 1 of the PBS NewsHour story that ran yesterday. Part 2 is expected to run this evening. We are sharing this to reinforce our commitment to you to ensure you have the safe work environment you deserve.

    “The stories the Forest Service employees shared during the PBS NewsHour piece are important to hear, difficult and heart-wrenching as they may be. Stories like these, which have come to light over the past few years, have underscored that there are elements of sexual harassment in the Forest Service that have existed and continue today. While we have taken significant actions over the past several years to address sexual harassment in the Forest Service, we acknowledge that we have more work to do. These are critical issues that the Forest Service must continue to take on to increase our efforts to protect our fellow employees so they know they can speak up and speak out, without any fear of retaliation or reprisal. We continue to consult with outside experts and focus internal resources to help us better support victims of harassment during investigations. Victims must know that there will be accountability for persons who engage in sexual harassment and reprisal. We are committed to our duty to create a workplace that is respectful, rewarding, and above all, a safe place for all employees. The Forest Service is committed to permanently changing our culture to create the workplace we all deserve.”

    Dan Jiron

    Acting Deputy Undersecretary for Natural Resources and the Environment

    I am the most clueless person when it comes to public affairs.. but I agree with you that a statement about Tony’s piece of this would have to come from the Secretary or some level below him, but above Dan Jiron. I like the fact that Dan is acting in this job right now as he “gets” this problem and its history and the difficulty of resolution in a way that a new person straight from the Hill or an NGO or industry association might not (that’s why I said what I did about not needing political appointees to make things happen).

    On the other hand, it makes it a little awkward for the FS, perhaps, because of Dan’s past/current/future connection with the Forest Service. On the third hand, Dan Jiron, as I recall, worked in public affairs in the WO (that’s how I met him, after getting in trouble with the Department for this very blog), so I’m sure he is highly attuned to what it means for the Department vs. the Forest Service to issue a statement. Perhaps something is working its way through some labyrinthine Departmental approval process and will come out next week.

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  4. Time for the USDA FS Chief to go. This is at least the 2nd incident involving him (that we know about).

    You can’t effectively lead an organization with a sexual harassment problem when you’re also involved in such incidents.

    No one in the organization will take the Chief seriously.

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  5. There is no reason to think that PBS has uncovered a “second” allegation of alleged sexual misconduct against Tooke. Although its reporting is not a model of clarity, the article appears to be referring to Tooke’s 10-year-old consensual affair. That affair has been thoroughly deconstructed on this blog. When Tooke says he expects to be treated like any other employee, I can’t help but think he knows the four corners of the rules.

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  6. AS why would the FS continue to investigate a 10 year old consensual affair since he was already disciplined for. FS has newer complaints I hope u noticed the terminology “sexual misconduct “.

    Why wouldn’t he beheld to the same standard of the rest of the FS. “Above Reproach” I remember you scoffed at that terminology. It is the Standard line officers are held to.

    Reply
    • Willie..I had a lovely time in my FS career, and was never a line officer. Is there some special thing that they are trained in/sign that says that they need to be “above reproach?”.

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  7. Andy may be right, they could be investigating the first incident because it was not as consensual as we were lead to believe or there are additional incidents do exist. Either way, it doesn’t look good.

    Willie’s points make sense. There are other, newer cases to handle. So unless something significant surfaced, investigators wouldn’t mess with an old case that has already been looked into.

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  8. Seldom does his type of behavior (Predatory) simply occur once. FS is for looking a pattern where Chief Tooke in a position of power and uses that position ( Ranger, Deputy FS , EMC Director , RF,Chief) for his sexual needs. Andrea’s post describes how he operates. They will discover more. The FS and the Department enabled Chief Tooke. If Dan Jiron is right “We have a process, we are going to follow that process, and No one is exempt”. That will answer the trivia question. Who is the shortest tenured FS Chief?

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  9. This is a gnarly situation for the Forest Service and it should be. A cardinal element shared by the cases of harassment seems to be an attitude that victims should “can it” and “not be a problem” for the sake of an agency to which everyone is loyal. There is an element of these attitudes even here, among well-meaning and thoughtful commentators. It is possible to question elements of any one case or the reporting, but is this not more of the same? Shouldn’t the burden of proof not be on the victims, where the agency seems to have placed it.

    In recent years I have learned with shame of problems in two institutions I hold dear (the Catholic church and the Forest Service), both or which failed to operate with conviction and consequence when it was clear that the least powerful were being harmed. In the Forest Service junior employees were sexually harassed, or worse assaulted, and found no support from peers, supervisors, and the channels to leadership established for this very purpose.

    I am not suggesting that the problems in the Forest Service are as grievous as those in the church, but the way in which the institutions responded has been similar. The Forest Service is not just any government agency. It is an institution that evolved with a progressive streak, a concern for social justice and the greater good. While other arms of government have at times succumbed to private interest and political pressure, more than others the Forest Service was to have a greater vision and concern for this generation and the next–truly a people’s agency. Perhaps this is naive, but I have held the Forest Service in high esteem and so the stories of how the agency has handled these situations is especially disappointing.

    Reply
    • Anon- I haven’t read each and every comment on each and every thread, but I am not aware of people on this blog having “an attitude that victims should “can it” and “not be a problem” for the sake of an agency to which everyone is loyal. There is an element of these attitudes even here, among well-meaning and thoughtful commentators. ”

      I haven’t heard anyone say here that sexual harassment should not be reported. Or did you mean something else?

      Reply
  10. AS in reference to your three strikes your out comment awhile back. I suspect you still stand by your jailhouse interpretation of FS ethics and conduct. Right?

    Pretty quiet these days AS.

    Acting Deputy US Dan Jiron is to be
    commended. “We have a process, we are going to follow that process and No one is exempt “. Good Job Dan
    You carried the FS line officer standard of “above reproach” and didn’t waiver.
    Proud to have worked with you

    Regards

    Reply

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