DNR Won’t Release Records On Harassment Allegations

The state Department of Natural Resources is refusing to release records detailing allegations that an agency employee harassed female coworkers, saying human beings make mistakes.

The Associated Press obtained a March 2018 disciplinary letter informing a DNR employee that they would be suspended for a day in April. According to the letter, the employee became drunk at a Milwaukee hotel in January, stared inappropriately at a female coworker and made an inappropriate comment to another female coworker.

The letter offers no other details. The employee’s name and division were redacted.

The AP filed a follow-up request seeking all documents from the investigation. DNR Administrative Policy Adviser Victoria Harmon denied the request, writing disclosure would interfere with future internal investigations and “human beings in all walks of life make mistakes.”