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DENVER (AP) — A former investigator for the U.S. Center for SafeSport, Jason Krasley, has been arrested again, this time facing serious charges of rape and sex trafficking. Krasley had previously been removed from his position due to allegations of stealing $5,500 from a drug bust he participated in while serving as a police officer in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
The recent felony charges against Krasley, which include rape and involuntary sexual servitude, are associated with incidents that are claimed to have occurred during his tenure on the police force from 2011 to 2015. Following his departure from the police department in 2021, Krasley began working at the SafeSport Center, which learned of his theft allegations last year and subsequently terminated his employment.
This latest turn of events raises significant concerns about the hiring protocols utilized by the SafeSport Center, an organization established in 2017 to address sexual abuse issues in Olympic sports at all levels. The center has faced scrutiny regarding its vetting process, especially given Krasley’s troubling record.
Krasley’s situation has prompted the SafeSport Center to initiate a third-party audit of the cases he handled while employed there. SafeSport CEO Ju’Riese Colon expressed her dismay over the allegations, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to maintaining high standards for staff, primarily when it concerns the safety of athletes.
Reports indicate that Krasley was involved in at least two cases related to sexual abuse. Following his theft charge arrest, one case was reassigned to another investigator. Concurrently, a claimant in another case reached out to SafeSport to request a review of her case, only to be informed that the issues were already under examination due to prior awareness of the allegations against Krasley.
In addition to the charges he currently faces, Krasley is also implicated in a whistleblower lawsuit filed by two other Allentown police officers. This lawsuit claims to expose a culture of misconduct within the department.
Adding to the gravity of this situation, current Allentown police officer Kevin Weaver was also arrested on the same day as Krasley, facing identical charges of felony rape and involuntary sexual servitude. Weaver has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The implications of these arrests extend beyond individual accountability, as they raise questions about institutional oversight and the mechanisms in place to protect individuals, particularly vulnerable populations, within the sporting world.
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
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