Las Vegas officials are looking into allegations that a firefighter violated department rules by having sex at one of the city's fire stations, an investigation that comes just months after personnel made claims of widespread sexual misconduct.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal has obtained documents outlining allegations of of the sexual activity and that some supervisors tried to cover up the rendezvous by intimidating the firefighter who revealed the matter. The city confirmed the investigation to the Review-Journal on Wednesday about the Aug. 21 incident at Fire Station 9 in the northwest part of the city.
"I did what we have been instructed to do, but now I am being threatened by captains and being portrayed as the problem," the firefighter wrote in the document. "The entire situation is proof of the culture that exists. If you report these types of issues, you will be bullied, intimidated and threatened."
The firefighter wrote that at one point while he was taking his concerns up the chain of command that one fire captain told him to "shut the (expletive) up."
The whistleblower alleged in the document that a woman spent several hours at the station, including time behind closed curtains in the dorm area, and that her daughter -- who appeared to be "of high school age" -- spent some time at the firehouse as well.
The accused and unidentified firefighter, whom the whistleblower says admitted to him that he had sex at the station, denied any misconduct in a brief interview with the Review-Journal.
Las Vegas Fire Chief William McDonald declined an interview but confirmed the investigation in a statement.
"We take allegations of this type very seriously and are looking into it thoroughly," he said. "As I stated back in May there is zero tolerance in the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Department for unauthorized visits or inappropriate behavior within our fire stations."
Earlier this year, a former department EMT told the Review-Journal that sex was commonplace inside fire stations across the valley. The EMT, Mallissa Barthule, estimated that she had sex in 13 different stations from 2008-2015.
In another incident in April, former Capt. Richard Loughry resigned after being charged with having sex with a 15-year-old prostitute inside Station 47. He faces eight felony charges and remains free on $25,000 bail.
