Sioux Falls, SD (KELO AM) – Within his first three weeks on the job, Sioux Falls Schools superintendent Brian Maher received his first major test, and initial indications are he passed with professionalism, dignity, and class.
After Sioux Falls Police announced the arrest of Dallas Wilkinson for allegedly using a foot camera to take pictures and video up women’s skirts at various retail stores and the farmer’s market in Sioux Falls, Maher took swift action and called a news conference Monday afternoon to address the issue. According to Mark Roper with KSFY TV “it was a serious situation, [and] the superintendent of Sioux Falls schools approached it very professionally.” Roper also said Maher did his best to address the obvious concern of parents and staff of the district, adding at this time there is no reason to believe Wilkinson filmed any students or co-workers in this manner.
Maher emphasized that Wilkinson passed all of the districts background checks when he was hired, saying nothing indicated he was capable of this alleged behavior. He added “we won’t tolerate behavior like this,” as he announced that Wilkinson turned in his resignation on Friday. Roper said it wasn’t clear if he resigned voluntarily or if the district forced his hand.
Court documents obtained by Roper and shared with KELO Radio say Wilkinson acknowledged to police that the behavior was wrong, and he had been recording women in this manor for about two years. Wilkinson was cooperative with police when confronted in the Hy-Vee parking lot on Minnesota Avenue, even showing officers the camera that was used in the alleged incidents.
Those documents also state that one of Wilkinson’s alleged victims has been identified as a 29 year old woman from Sioux Falls. All told he’s facing 4 counts of using a camera to secretly record the body of a person. Wilkinson was released on bond.