Battalion Chief Resigns Over Unchanging Harassment Policies

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA—The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue department's Women's Program Officer has resigned from the position over lack of progress in making the work environment safe from sexual harassment and other misbehavior.

Kathleen Stanley, also a battalion chief, announced her resignation to Chief Richard Bowers in a letter. Her duties included improving the work environment for women after firefighter Nicole Mittendorff’s 2016 suicide, but she says the leadership hasn't made change possible. The fire department entered the national spotlight after Mittendorff committed suicide after firefighters allegedly cyberbullied her in online comments.

"Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tolerates, and often defends, sexual harassment, retaliation and a hostile work environment: 'zero tolerance' is a hollow term thrown about with false commitment," Stanley wrote in the letter, according to WUSA.

Meanwhile a decision was reversed this week on a harassment case brought forward by Fairfax County firefighter Magaly Hernandez, The Washington Post reports. The court reversed a decision against Hernandez's case, where she claimed station captain Jon Bruley kept touching her and made sexual comments.

Stanley herself has sued after female firefighters allegedly had to sleep in unheated station closets and shower in urinals, and one male firefighter slapped a female firefighter with a ham while making sexual comments. The case led to a settlement, but the department hasn't fulfilled promises of change, The Post reports.

Stanley says the decision to resign was hard, "but it has become clear that my style of leadership and my views and values towards change."

Bowers responded in a statement saying, "Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department takes seriously all claims of bullying, harassment, and retaliation. The specifics of the findings and outcomes are protected personnel information that cannot be openly discussed.

"Significant countywide resources are committed to identifying and addressing all founded concerns. The Fire and Rescue Department will continue to work with staff and county partners to address the range of issues and concerns regarding the organizational culture.

"We value every employee and volunteer in our department. We will continue to move forward to make our organization better and strive to cultivate a safe and welcoming workplace for everyone."

Read the full letter obtained by WUSA.

Image via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue