Resolution to Urge Local Prosecutor Denis Tracy to Retry Hargraves
The Washington State University Graduate and Professional Student Association Resolution 2019.002
Approved by GPSA Senate: October 7, 2020
WHEREAS, Hargraves is accused of custodial sexual misconduct; and
WHEREAS, Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins said the sergeant charged with custodial sexual misconduct engaged in “completely unacceptable behavior.”; and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Patrol and internal investigation found the accuser’s claims credible; and
WHEREAS, a forensic scientist at the WSP Crime Laboratory matched Hargraves’ DNA to semen found on the student’s sleeve; and
WHEREAS, the WSU student body puts an immense amount of trust and faith in the Pullman and WSU Police departments and any breach of this faith is a danger to all students on our campus; and
WHEREAS, WSU GPSA stands firmly with survivors and wants to support an environment where they feel empowered to come forward; and
WHEREAS, WSU GPSA is committed to the safety and well-being of students on campus and that inaction in this case does not support that aim; and
WHEREAS, the original trial of Mr. Hargraves was declared a mistrial from a hung jury; and
WHEREAS, the Whitman County Prosecutor, Denis Tracy, is in charge of deciding to retry this case; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Graduate & Professional Student Association (GPSA) of Washington State University supports urges our elected prosecutor, Denis Tracy, to retry the case involving the accused police Sergeant Mr. Hargraves; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, stands in support of ASWSU’s published statement from September 30th, 2019 on the matter;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, upon passage of this resolution shall be sent to Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy, WSU President Kirk Schulz, Interim Provost Bryan Slinker, WSU Vice President of Student Affairs Mary Jo Gonzales, WSU Dean of the Graduate School Lisa Gloss, Vice President for External Affairs and Government Relations Colleen Kerr, WSU Chief of Police Bill Gardner, Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins
Signed by:
Ralph Chikhany, GPSA President
Veneice Guillory-Lacy, GPSA Executive Vice President
Matthew J. Sutherland, GPSA Vice President of Legislative Affairs