A nationally known youth drum and bugle corps based in the Milwaukee area has been suspended after reports of poor health care and other safety concerns.

Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps & Color Guard had a registered sex offender on its staff, which works with youth ages 14 to 21, according to a statement issued this week from Drum Corps International, the Indiana-based organization and an organizer of such events nationwide.

Pioneer later removed the sex offender from its staff, the statement said, but it provided no other details about the offender, including what position the person held.

Pioneer, which was founded in 1961, practices in Cudahy and performs an 80-date tour across the U.S., has been under investigation for more than a year. The probe most recently focused on "questions of adherence to acceptable standards of health and safety for all participants," the statement said.

The group also found Pioneer leaders "discouraged corps members and staff from reporting questionable incidents and circumstances."

Drum corps like Pioneer feature choreographed acts in addition to music. It costs nearly $3,000 to join the group for a season, according to the group's website.

Pioneer was allowed to finish its performance season with competition in Indiana earlier this month. Drum Corps International said it provided oversight of Pioneer.

"While balancing assurance of a safe environment with the strong desire to allow Pioneer’s performers to benefit from their hard work by completing their season, DCI leadership put a system of rigorous oversight in place for the remainder of the tour," the statement said.

Since the season ended, Drum Corps International received "credible reports" of new issues through its own reporting and accusations on social media, including possible retaliation.

Drum Corps International suspended Pioneer Aug. 16 and announced its action Tuesday.

In a statement posted online, longtime Pioneer Executive Director Roman Blenski wrote that the organization disagrees with certain allegations but said "some of what has been described is true." He did not elaborate and could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening.

"For those particular situations, we hope you can accept our sincerest apologies," Blenski wrote. "In addition, we have launched our own re-evaluation of current policies and procedures to determine areas for improvement. Once we’ve identified those opportunities, we will develop an action plan to make the appropriate changes."

Social media has been buzzing for weeks about Pioneer.

One member wrote in an email to the Journal Sentinel that there was insufficient medical staff for the group, where injuries are common. In some cases, Pioneer members themselves served as medical staff, he said.

Pioneer's suspension comes following an investigation by the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News that reported nine women accused George Hopkins, the longtime decorated director of The Cadets drum corps in Allentown, Pennsylvania, of sexual assault and harassment over decades. Hopkins resigned a short time later.

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Pioneer's future under Drum Corps International is unclear. In its statement, the group said it "will address all issues with Pioneer leadership and lay out terms for possible reinstatement."