Casper Police Department, Other Agencies Will Hold Sexual Assault Panel Discussion

The Casper Police Department and other public and nonprofit agencies will conduct a second sexual assault panel discussion at Casper College’s Durham Hall from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, according to a news release from the department.

This is the second of two planned panel discussions.

The first was held on April 6.

Lesley Travers, dean of the School of Business and Industry, will moderate the event that will address the legal, investigative, prosecutorial and victim service issues and challenges about sexual assault.

The event will focus on solutions, actions, plans, and the way forward.

Other participants include Natrona County District Attorney Mike Blonigen, Interim Casper Police Chief Steve Schulz, Police Department Investigations and Victim Services personnel, and representatives of the Self-Help Center, the Children’s Advocacy Project, and the Wyoming Medical Center’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners.

The City of Casper and the police department have received criticisms since last fall about the way sexual assault cases are handled. Casper City Council, in response to residents’ complaints, authorized spending $53,550 for the Center for Public Safety Management to do an independent review of department operations, resources and interaction with the community.