WASHINGTON-- As a grand jury looks into allegations of a sex ring involving District of Columbia firefighters, an unrelated claim of possible sexual misconduct, until now, has gone unnoticed.
9NEWS NOW has learned a veteran firefighter is expected to face a department trial board next month after being accused of having a woman share his bed inside a DC firehouse.
When asked about the case from this summer, DC Fire & EMS Department Battalion Chief Kenneth Crosswhite will only say they have received allegations and have recommended the case to a trial board. Crosswhite says he "is not at liberty to discuss it anymore".
But 9NEWS NOW has received a copy of the charges against the firefighter who was assigned to drive Rescue Squad 2, located with Engine 24, at 5101 Georgia Avenue, Northwest.
According to a memorandum sent to the firefighter on September 24th by Assistant Fire Chief Larry Schultz, "the Department is seeking the maximum penalty of termination" in this case.
The papers show two charges against the firefighter claiming he had an unauthorized female visitor in his bunk and that he obstructed a department investigation.
The incident occurred on July 1st. According to the documents sent to the firefighter, a department lieutenant reported that "when he entered the technician's bunk room, he found you in bed with a female with the lights off".
At the firehouse, there are a number of private sleeping quarters in addition to the general bunk room.
The papers refer to a department special report stating the firefighter admitted to having the female in his bunk. The report claims the firefighter told his superiors that "she needed a place to stay" and that he admitted to having the woman in bed with him.
The firefighter is accused of providing "misleading and inaccurate statements to superiors during an official investigation" because of a report he wrote about the incident four days after it happened. The charging documents claim in that report the firefighter recanted his earlier admission:
"You wrote that at 0800 hours, after being relieved and off duty, you remained in quarters of Engine Company 24 to await transportation home. You added that you needed assistance with some personal belongings and beddings, so you asked your 'transportation' to accompany you to quarters to remove your belongings."
The fire department claims the firefighter first told superiors the woman arrived at 4:00 a.m. and in his later statement wrote that she showed up at 7:45 a.m.
Sources tell 9NEWS NOW that the firefighter is still working with full pay, but has been placed in a job where he does not interact with the public. 9NEWS NOW is making attempts to contact the firefighter.
Republished with permission of WUSA-TV.
