County Executive Investigates Claims Against Fire Department

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA—County Executive Bryan Hill is investigating claims made against the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department in a top female leader's resignation letter.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors called for the investigation Tuesday, roughly a week after Battalion Chief Kathleen Stanley resigned from her position as women's program officer. She says there's been a lack of progress in making the work environment safe from sexual harassment and other misbehavior—after firefighter Nicole Mittendorff's 2016 suicide and Stanley's appointment to the position.

"County Administration takes Chief Stanley’s allegations very seriously. We value every employee and strive to cultivate a safe and welcoming workplace throughout the county," said Hill in a memo announcing the investigation.

After the investigation concludes, Hill will share his findings with the Board of Supervisors and the public.

Stanley's resignation letter provides a number of alleged examples demonstrating the lack of change at the fire department. "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, released in full by WUSA.

Nicole Mittendorf's husband Steve called on for Fire Chief Richard Bowers and other top fire officials to resign and county leadership to re-evaluate fire department leadership in light of Stanley's allegations.

But Bowers told reporters he has no plans to resign. He called Stanley's allegations "misleading" and that "countywide resources were committed to addressing all founded concerns."

Fire department officials had briefed the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 30 about the work being done to improve the environment for all employees.

"These allegations contrast with a positive report made to the Board at a Public Safety Committee Meeting on January 30th regarding progress in addressing behavioral issues in the Fire and Rescue Department," Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova said in a statement. "Fairfax County takes very seriously any behavior that threatens a safe, respectful and professional work environment."

The fire department entered the spotlight in 2016 when Mittendorff committed suicide, after firefighters allegedly cyberbullied her in online comments. The following year, a third party assessment on the fire department identified issues involving leadership, bullying, harassment, discrimination, conflict management and hiring. An action plan being implemented at the fire department followed.

SEE ALSO:

• Battalion Chief Resigns Over Unchanging Harassment Policies
• Widower Of Bullied Firefighter Demands Fire Chief's Resignation

Image via Fairfax County