WASHINGTON — A new report states that two D.C. Fire and EMS department instructors, who were accused of sexually harassing female cadets this year, acted inappropriately but did not harass the cadets.
The Washington Post reported that the investigation was conducted by the fire department’s Equal Employment Opportunity office.
One of the instructors was suspended for nearly three weeks without pay and both were removed from the academy when the allegations were made, according to the report. It’s unclear what position they currently hold.
“The academy should be a safe learning environment, and we’re glad to see closure,” Ed Smith, the president of the firefighter’s union, said.
All members of the recruit class were interviewed — including 10 female cadets and 22 male cadets. Six female cadets told the investigators they never witnessed or heard of any sexual harassment, according to the report.
The other four, according to the inspector general, “described incidents ... which made them feel uncomfortable.” One said an instructor chest-bumped her before she slid down the fire pole and touched her on her leg, close to her buttocks, according to the report. Another cadet said an instructor stroked her hair and neck.
The instructor who was suspended said he briefly touched her hair, because it was covering her face and he wanted to know if it was a weave, according to the report.
The same instructor also said he chest-bumped a female recruit, because he was “simply excited that the cadet overcame her fear concerning the task and the contact was not intended as sexual or inappropriate,” according to the report.
The inspector general said there was lack of sufficient evidence to conclude that the cadets had been sexually harassed and that the incidents they described appear to have been isolated, according to the report.
The inspector general said he “considers this matter closed and does not want warrant further action at this time.”