Chancellor apologizes for delayed reaction to domestic abuse

Published Feb. 4, 2017 3:34 p.m. ET

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) The chancellor of the University of Colorado is apologizing for the university's failure to act quickly enough when it learned of domestic abuse allegations against assistant coach Joseph Tumpkin.

Chancellor Philip DiStefano issued a statement Friday saying he, athletic director Rick George and football coach Mike MacIntyre wanted to apologize to Tumpkin's former girlfriend.

''She should have received an immediate response from the university pertaining to the actions we might take as well as expressing concern for her safety and any support she needed to deal with repercussions of the trauma she suffered,'' DiStefano wrote.

The statement indicated the coach and athletic director learned of the allegations in mid-December, but Tumpkin still coached during a Dec. 29 bowl game. Officials said Tumpkin wasn't suspended until Jan. 6, shortly after they learned Tumpkin had been served with a restraining order. He was forced to resign on Jan. 27.

Tumpkin, 45, is alleged to have abused his former girlfriend in Colorado in February 2015 and November 2016. He was charged on Jan. 31 with five felony counts of second-degree assault and three misdemeanor counts of third-degree assault. He is expected to make an initial court appearance on Thursday. Tumpkin's attorney did not return a call from The Associated Press after the charges were filed.

The woman's request for a restraining order said he assaulted her twice in November after she said she wanted to end the relationship, court records said.

DiStefano's statement said officials should have forwarded information about the woman's allegations to the university's office of Institutional Equity and Compliance.

''I am now making it clear to all CU Boulder mandatory reporters that even when they become aware of possible domestic abuse that does not involve a person affiliated with the campus, I want them to err on the side of reporting it to OIEC,'' DiStefano wrote. ''In hindsight we should have done so here.''