This newspaper owes survivors an apology for publishing former Sheriff John McCroskey’s column.
I was a high school student at Centralia High School when McCroskey was sheriff. I grew up just outside the city limits. If I was sexually assaulted, like Christine Blasey Ford, I would have called the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
Would calling them have been safe? Would I have been believed? The answer is no!
McCroskey stated that Sen. Dianne Feinstein should have broken the confidence of a survivor.
McCroskey stated the FBI investigation was complete. This is not the case. Not all victims and witnesses were interviewed. We know the president limited the FBI’s ability to even investigate. Is that what you did as sheriff, Mr. McCroskey? Did you limit witness interviews? Do you not investigate credible claims?
If these were the practices of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office during your tenure I am deeply troubled to think of all the survivors who didn’t come forward because they knew they wouldn’t be taken seriously. Even more alarming, I am horrified to think of all the survivors who may have been railroaded by your office and limited investigation practices.
I hope the current Lewis County Sheriff issues a strong statement of support for survivors. I hope they publicly disclose the process the department takes when a survivor comes forward because this letter has left a black mark on the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
Jordan Hevenor
Centralia High School Class of 1996
Wakefield, Rhode Island
