Firefighters Disciplined Over Sexual Behavior Involving Escorts, Adult Websites
SACRAMENTO (CBS/AP) — An assistant state fire chief was demoted for using a state cellphone and vehicle to arrange sex with escorts, and a firefighter was fired for sexually harassing a civilian at a graduation celebration near the state's fire academy, according to documents made public Monday.
The documents released to The Associated Press under a Public Records Act request are the latest disciplinary reports to be made public because the firefighters appealed their discipline to the State Personnel Board.
Assistant Chief Scott Henry was demoted to battalion chief for using his state cellphone to make appointments with escorts for sex on three occasions in 2013, and for viewing adult websites. He also used his state vehicle as many as a dozen times to drive to a hotel to meet escorts, the department said.
His off-duty behavior was offset by his history with the department and honesty during the investigation, according to the public records. The documents show Henry filed his appeal Feb. 18 but withdrew it Feb. 23.
Separately, firefighter Timothy Edgmon was fired after he made sexual advances to a woman at a bar that included trying to grind his hips into her and exposing himself, all after identifying himself as a firefighter. He followed her outside and only stopped after the woman's friend yelled at him, according to the disciplinary report.
Edgmon also drank on duty and lied to investigators about the April 2014 incident near the academy in Ione, 40 miles southeast of Sacramento, according to the public records.
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Capt. Cole Periera was demoted to the rank of engineer for 12 months for drinking on duty at three firefighter graduation ceremonies in 2013 and 2014, and for failing to report academy cadets drinking on duty.
Terry McHale, a spokesman for the union representing department employees, said he couldn't comment because he hadn't seen the documents.
"As they come in we will turn them over to legal and let them go through the process," he said.
Four other Department of Forestry and Fire Protection complaints became public last month in the aftermath of a $2 million investigation into firefighters' behavior at the academy.
"Our actions show we took this seriously," said department spokeswoman Janet Upton.
The investigation began in May after former battalion chief and academy instructor Orville Fleming was arrested in the death of a former escort who became his girlfriend. He has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in the slaying of Sarah June Douglas, 26.
The reports last month said firefighters drank on duty at the academy and displayed sexually explicit photographs on state cellphones, among other misbehavior that resulted in disciplinary action against 16 employees. One other employee, Assistant Chief Mike Ramirez, was fired in January over allegations including that he failed to act when Fleming slapped a female cadet on the buttocks.
Another employee resigned, while the rest face suspensions, demotions or reductions in pay.
Fire officials asked the California Highway Patrol to investigate after Fleming's estranged wife told SacramentoCounty sheriff's investigators and reporters that she had viewed a video showing Douglas having sex with her husband and other firefighters on fire trucks. No such tape was ever found and investigators discounted the report, but the public records say Fleming displayed a partially nude photo of the victim to Ramirez.
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