Members of the Disabled American Veterans Department inIndiana are outraged. They complain that convicted sex offenders are working and volunteering at the Indianapolis VA
Medical Center.
Fox59 decided to take action, to find out why they are allowed to be there, right near where students volunteer and veterans get treatment.
"We became aware of a situation at the Roudebush Hospital where they had an individual who had been convicted of being a sexual predator," said Mike Whelihan, State Adjutant for the Disabled American Veterans Department of Indiana.
Whelihan was speaking about Terry Wayne Hooper, who is listed as a volunteer at the hospital.
After investigating further, Fox59 discovered there are actually 10 registered sex offenders who list either their work or volunteer address as 1481 W.10th Street, which is the address of the Indianapolis VA Medical Center.
Records show these men already served time for everything from child molestation, to rape, to sexual battery.
"We’ve got young children volunteering at that Roudebush Hospital that are walking the halls with sexual predators," said Whelihan.
He said convicted sex offenders should not be at the hospital, with access to computer records and interacting with veterans, and children, who should both be protected.
"What happens if that child or your grandchild? It sort of strikes home, doesn’t it? And the VA doesn’t care," said Whelihan.
He pointed to what happened to one woman, who did not want to be identified, but said she was assaulted by a man when she picked him up for a ride. She said it happened when she worked daily as a volunteer at Roudebush.
"I just whipped his hand off and told him that was not allowed and he said he just wanted to get a feel and could I feel the rest of you," said Whelihan.
The supervisor she reported it to was Terry Wayne Hooper, a convicted sex offender.
She said he would not sign the paperwork when she tried to file a complaint. At the time, she did not know he was a convicted offender, but she says it now makes more sense.
"I believe he refused to sign it because he didn’t want to draw attention to himself because he is one of those in the hospital that is a sexual predator," said the alleged victim.
She said the director of Volunteer Services later forced Hooper to sign, so it is documented. She said no one from the VA ever asked her about it again to see if she was ok.
Her concern is that a child might not have the wherewithal to defend against the advances, and report them.
"There are places in the hospital that are not on camera such as the stairwells, the elevators, the individual bathrooms and these children could be shoved in there," she said.
Leaders from the Indianapolis VA Medical Center declined an interview, but gave us this statement, explaining why the men are allowed to be there:
Patient and employee safety and security are paramount at the Indianapolis VA Medical Center. We have a responsibility to protect veterans in our care, just as they have protected our nation, and we continuously review our facility procedures to ensure that each veteran receives high-quality medical care in a safe environment.
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