User:Knkmunoz/Incidents at Cedar Fair parks

Sexual Assault at Cedar Point
Since 2017, Cedar Point has had a total count of 29 reports of sexual assault filed with the Sandusky Police Department. The most recent cases from Cedar Park were reported on May 24, 2022 as well as July 28, 2022. There have been less cases filed for sexual assault this year with only two in comparison to the ten reports from last year. Still, Sandusky Police Department Prosecutor, Kevin Baxter, has stated that the trend of rising sexual assault cases in Cedar Park is alarming and needs to be monitored. The Cedar Park dorms that housed workers is where the alleged sexual assault cases all occurred. Former employees have stated that the environment of living within the employee dorms is very chaotic often feeling like it's a party dormitory. A total number of 15 cases have been dropped by female workers for unknown reasons and only one conviction has occurred; all were coworkers of the accusers. 12 of the cases included rape and 9 included unwanted touching. 21 of the 29 cases have since been closed. As a company Cedar Point has a strict no harassing, threatening, or inappropriate interactions policy for all guests but they haven't been holding their employees up to that same code. On behalf of the victims, WTOL and its affiliates from Columbus and Cleveland have gone forward in suing Cedar Point for the sexual assault cases from the past five years. These tv stations are suing Cedar Point to release their investigations and records because all police departments in the state of Ohio need to make those public record.

Cedar Point has been asked by numerous news stations for a comment about these sexual assault cases but they've denied all attempts. In a series of emails between the Police Chief for Sandusky PD, Jared Oliver, and the Police Chief for Cedar Point, Ron Gilson, it was shown that Gilson would not be speaking on anything unless it was directed by Cedar Point. In situations as serious as this one, there is a high possibility that whatever information Cedar Point does choose to release would still face a lot of backlash from the general public for how long this has gone on. What Cedar Point has said is that, "While we do not comment on specific personnel matters as we protect the privacy of our associates, we feel it is important to reiterate that every associate who feels unsafe in any way is welcome, without exception, to discuss with management. In no way are any associates discouraged from escalating any situation that may make them feel uncomfortable". Ultimately this plan places a lot of responsibility on individuals to report their uneasy feelings after the situation has happened which can be extremely difficult for victims to do. In attempts to take the responsibility off victims and stop sexual assault before it even happens, Kevin Baxter teamed up with Erie County Victim Assistant Director, Sarah Reynolds, to offer Cedar Point managers and employees education about sexual assault as well as prevention methods. Cedar Point did not take this opportunity and has since made no comments about why.

Cedar Point has always had their own police department, but because of the rise in reports of sexual assault the amusement park's main company, Cedar Fair, has agreed to team up with the Sandusky Police Department and there is no longer a Cedar Point police department. From now on, all investigations and cases will go through the Sandusky Police Department and Cedar Point will only be in charge of minor responsibilities such as security. Cedar Point will also be responsible for paying the salary, training, and benefits, of the individuals hired through the Sandusky Police Department.

Numerous employees have come out since working at Cedar Point to discuss what happened to them, why they did or did not report their sexual assault after it happened, and why they believe this happened to them. Former employee Erin McKay says that she was assaulted and raped in 2017 in the Cedar Park employee dorms but feared reporting it because she was 17 years old and not legally allowed to be inside of the Cedar Point employee dormitory. She has since blamed herself for this situation happening. Another former employee by the name of Brittany Dunlap reported that she was fired after reporting that she was sexually assaulted by a co-worker. Even former employees from the 1990s have been coming forward with their stories of sexual assault in the Cedar Point dorms. This woman (who wishes to remain unnamed) recalls back to her time at Cedar Point in 1994 when she reported what happened to her, " ''They said, 'were you drinking," and I said, 'everybody drinks,' and they said 'well you're underage. Were you drinking? Because if you were drinking you're going to lose your job and your bonus''" . This employee later quit and realized that she was a few months pregnant with the child of who assaulted her . The former Cedar Point employees who have been victims of sexual assault have created a support group to discuss amongst each other.

In an interview with 10WBNS one former employee stated that during high covid times Cedar Point became lax with their hiring practices. It can be inferred that the lax hiring practices led to the workers safety being compromised and that is why there was an increase in sexual assault cases. During the pandemic Cedar Point placed pressure upon hiring staff to essentially hire whoever picked up the phone for an interview, even if it meant they had an incomplete background check. Since that accusation, Cedar Point has only chosen to publicly comment on their hiring practices and deny that they were ever 'lax' saying, "Cedar Point conducts background checks on new hire associates. It has been our longstanding practice and it continues to be a vital tool in our hiring process. If there are issues uncovered in the background check that could jeopardize the health and safety of our associates or guests, we take appropriate action up to and including termination of the associate". No official updates from Cedar Point regarding the sexual assault cases have been released since. The company's continued silence on this important issue has led to many supporters of the company thinking they are guilty.