Accountability at Coast Guard Academy Does Not End with Alex Simonka’s Suicide

Cieplik was responsible for supervising Alex Simonka since 1999.

Coach Alex Simonka was found dead in his vehicle on 14 March 2009 on the grounds of the Coast Guard Academy.  In the days following Simonka’s death, details were scarce and far from transparent.  While his death by suicide was easily apparent, the Academy, CGIS, local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney were all tight lipped at first.

As details slowly began to creep out, more questions were left unanswered when the Academy announced that the U.S. Attorney was investigating finance irregularities within Coast Guards Athletic Association.  Today the Academy gave a story to The Day that in our estimation leaves more questions to be answered.  What is left unanswered is any hint of accountability on the part  of the Coast Guard Academy.

The Superintend Scott Burhoe has been on the job since 2007 but apparently never ordered or asked for an audit of where his Cadets money was being spent.  Each cadet has $300.00 annually debited from their pay towards the Athletic Association.  Burhoe told The Day that it was the Board of Control made up of senior officers at the Academy who were responsible for conducting audits, but he couldn’t remember the last time they met.  My guess is not in a decade at least.

It’s true that had Burhoe not started asking questions this may have gone on even longer. Athletic Director Ray Cieplik was Simonka’s direct supervisor since 1999.  Cieplik had 10 years to poke Simonka and conduct an audit of the Athletic Association.  Accountability for this significant financial oversight disaster doesn’t stop with the dead guy.  Where is the accountability with those who should have been conducting regular audits and who is the Chairman of the  Board of Control.  Lastly, would Simonka still be alive today if the controls that were already in place had been followed by Coast Guard Academy leadership.  Had regular and routine audits been conducted by those charged with doing so when Simonka made his first withdrawal, we very well might not be discussing this today.