Fairfax County's fire chief has announced he is stepping down in April after claims of bullying and sexual harassment within the department emerged after a six-month study.
According to WTOP, Fire Chief Richard Bowers made his retirement announcement to department staff Friday via conference call before the news became public, a course reversal from statements Bowers made Feb. 1 when he said he had no plans to resign over the scandal.
The lengthy review of the department and follow-up complaints were largely prompted by the 2016 suicide of firefighter-paramedic Nicole Mittendorf, who was found in April of that year in Shenandoah National Park eight days after she was last seen. Friends and family say Mittendorf had been subject to vicious cyber-bullying from anonymous colleagues.
Bowers, whose retirement will be effective April 30, has been fire chief in Fairfax County for five years after serving 35 years with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue, where he rose in rank until being named chief of that department.
"I want all the men and women of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Service, career, volunteer and civilian staff to know you are outstanding people and I respect each and every one of you. You are hard workers and I am so proud of everyone and of this department!" Bowers said in an email message to department employees.
