Despite Admittance Anti-Gay Hazing Investigation “Flawed” Senior Chief Petty Officer Still Force To Retire

The Associated Press reports that the Navy admits it wrongly accused dog handler Michael Toussaint of singling out a gay sailor for hazing at kennels he headed in Bahrain. Former Petty Officer Third Class Joseph Rocha says Toussaint singled him out for being gay, causing him mental trauma, and his exit from the Navy. Rocha was later invited to the White house to watch as President Barack Obama signed the repeal of the ban on gays serving openly in the military. Two Naval officers now say that Navy officials have found the investigation into Rocha's charges was "flawed," and the claims unsubstantiated. Despite the findings, Toussaint will still be forced to retire from the Navy for allowing what officials considered "minor" hazing to be directed at former Petty Officer Third Class Joseph Rocha and all other trainees, according to two naval officers. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were discussing an internal personnel matter. Toussaint was also accused of improper "fraternization" with those he commanded, including gambling for money at his home. Officially, the Navy would say only that Toussaint "did not meet the standards expected of senior enlisted leadership in our Navy," according to a statement by Juan Garcia, assistant Navy secretary for manpower and reserve affairs. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus concurred with the decision by the chief of naval operations that Toussaint not be permitted to reenlist, Garcia said. In response to a request for comment, Rocha wrote in an e-mail Thursday, "This case will have a lasting impact on the military as a whole in keeping our men and women safe as they serve and honouring anyone who has been mistreated while wearing a uniform. I and many like myself now proudly await the near future when the repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell' is fully implemented and we can continue our military service." In 2009, Rocha wrote an opinion piece for The Washington Post that helped make him one of the best known of the more than 10,000 people dismissed from the military under the 1993 policy banning openly gay service members, saying in part "I was tormented by my chief and fellow sailors, physically and emotionally, for being gay. The irony of 'don't ask, don't tell' is that it protects bigots and punishes gays who comply.”