Video: Local Boy Scout Councils Speaking Out About ‘Perversion Files’

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Local Boy Scout officials are speaking out about the massive database recently released now known as the “Perversion Files.”

Officials in the Columbus area want to assure residents that they are doing whatever it takes to ensure the safety of children within the organization.

The “Perversion Files” documents sex-abuse reports scanning several decades. The files were released Thursday, following the approval of the Oregon Supreme Court after a case against the organization–where a scoutmaster sexually abused a scout.

Out of those files listed from 1958 to 2003, 20 reports show alleged sexual abuse cases within the State of Mississippi. One report came from the Columbus unit. The Columbus unit, and several others that took place in Mississippi did not show any details, except an I-D number for the alleged person and the Scout unit numbers.

Scout Executive and CEO of the Columbus chapter, Jeremy Whitmore, spoke to WCBI about how the Pushmataha Area Council is protecting scouts in our area.

” The Boy Scouts has a five-level plan to protect our youth from any level of abuse. Those would include criminial background checks, the approval of all of our leaders by the local sponsors of scouting units. Mandatory training for our youth, as well as our adult leaders. We do have barriers to abuse, including too deep leadership: no scouting activity takes place without at least two adult leaders and then if a report is made, swift action is taken and immediate reporting to authorities takes place,” says Whitmore.

Whitmore also says that since began his position in January 2012, there have been no cases of reported abuse that has taken place within the Pushmataha Area Council.

He says they’ll continue to follow the policies and procedures of the Boy Scouts of America to serve and protect young boys.