Retired Milwaukee County doctor named in Boy Scouts sex abuse investigation
MILWAUKEE- A retired doctor is at the center of sexual assault scandal involving two boy scouts.
So did the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) cover it up, or were they trying to protect the victims? That's the big question at the center of allegations against the (BSA).
Those allegations date back three decades, and it involves dozens of cases of sexual misconduct nationwide -- including some here in southeast Wisconsin.
The BSA takes pride in "scouts honor" but now with the reports that some scout leaders molested boys, the organization's integrity is being called into question.
The BSA has been around for more 100 years and it's the one of the largest youth groups in the country. But confidential memos dating back some 30 years, prove the Boy Scouts of America covered up cases of sexual abuse.
People like Dr. Thomas Kowalski wrote the state's laws on child abuse. Back in 1987, the confidential files show two teens accused the doctor, now living in Milwaukee, of fondling them on a camp outing.
The doctor confessed in a private memo. He was ordered to resign as a scout leader and agreed to go to therapy; he was never charged criminally.
"Even one case of abuse whether it's in the past or current is a great tragedy," said Ed Brandon, scout executive of the former Milwaukee County Council.
He contends the old policy was kept quiet for one reason, "to protect the victim and not make a big deal."
TODAY'S TMJ4's Jermont Terry: "Was there a cover up by the Boy Scouts of America?"
Ed Brandon: "No, absolutely not!"
But many wonder if the youth organization was protecting itself.
The LA Times reports that the BSA turned to a well-connected board member to keep the matter out of the news media -- an unnamed publisher of local newspapers. The publisher "is aware of the situation but apparently will not be passing the information to his editors," the BSA official wrote.
Under the current BSA policy, scouts are not allowed to be alone with scout leaders -- and any allegations must get reported immediately to police.
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