D.C. mayor 'troubled' by firehouse scandal reports

By Matthew Cella
The Washington Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. — D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty yesterday said he was "troubled" by reports that the city's fire department is investigating whether its employees were operating a prostitution ring out of fire station bunkhouses.

Mr. Fenty would not discuss the investigation or any personnel issues directly, but he said he and Fire Chief Dennis L. Rubin have been working to initiate better background checks and to weed out bad behavior among employees.

"There are always, in every organization, some bad apples," Mr. Fenty told WTWP Radio (1500 AM).

Carrie Brooks, a spokeswoman for Mr. Fenty, did not respond to an e-mail or a phone message seeking comment.

D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson said he was not aware of the investigation until it was reported yesterday in The Washington Times. He said he spoke with Chief Rubin, who told him that a police investigation was under way and that the fire department was taking the claim very seriously.

"It appears the allegation was made without giving any evidence, but the last thing anybody would want is for this to be ignored and find out this is true. It's got to be investigated." said Mr. Mendelson, at-large Democrat who is chairman of the council's Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary, which has oversight of the fire department.

Mr. Mendelson said he was pleased with the steps Chief Rubin has taken so far.

"If any of it is true, it has to be dealt with. It has to be dealt with swiftly and severely," Mr. Mendelson said.

Sources close to the investigation told The Times that as many as a dozen fire department employees stationed with at least four fire companies citywide are being investigated for involvement in the prostitution ring.

The sources said the ring has been referred to as "D.C. Fems" — a play on the acronym for the city's Fire and Emergency Medical Services department. The sources said investigators are looking into whether female emergency medical technicians performed sex acts for money on men, including male fire department employees, in the bunkhouses of fire stations since late last year.

Sources said the investigation also is looking at whether a male fire officer might have been involved in coordinating the operation.

Fire officials told The Times that no action had been taken against any employee in connection with the investigation.

The sources said fire officials learned of the purported ring during a criminal investigation last month of claims that a sergeant exposed himself to a female emergency medical technician. Sources said that incident occurred July 30 in the lounge area of Engine 8 in the 1500 block of C Street Southeast.

Sources said Engine 8 is not among the stations being investigated.

Chief Rubin put the sergeant accused of exposing himself on administrative leave after the incident was reported, and the sergeant resigned from the department.

Sources said the investigation of the reputed prostitution ring focuses on Engine 27, at 4201 Minnesota Ave. NE. The station had billed itself on its Web site, as "DCFD's busiest single house."