Copyright 2005 Journal Sentinel Inc.
Action follows inquiry of alleged lewdness on camera
By JOHN DIEDRICH
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin)
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — An investigation into a Milwaukee fire lieutenant who is suspected of performing a lewd act in front of a computer camera while on duty has widened, leading to the suspension of at least two firefighters, a top city official said Monday.
The department has put two to three firefighters on suspension, said Patrick Curley, chief of staff for Mayor Tom Barrett. He said at least one of the suspended employees is being paid. At least four firefighters are under investigation, he said.
“I don’t know how far the tentacles will reach. There is a minimum of four, and it could go higher,” Curley said.
“The chief has informed us about the suspensions. Our advice has been to follow the letter of law but move as quickly as possible and let people know this is clearly unacceptable behavior and it will not be tolerated at the Fire Department.”
The department declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation, said Assistant Chief Mark Sain.
Last week, Chief William Wentlandt said he expected the investigation to be done in roughly two weeks. The chief could not be reached for comment Monday. Union officials also could not be reached for comment.
Sources familiar with the investigation who spoke on the condition of anonymity said three firefighters have been suspended, and a fourth - the lieutenant who is suspected of performing the lewd act - is on sick leave. They are all being paid, the sources said.
Those sources also provided new details of the incident, which occurred on computers at two firehouses within the last month. Curley said the investigation is looking at whether multiple fire stations were involved.
One night in late November or early December, the lieutenant was in a computer chat room, corresponding with a woman he thought he knew, the sources said. Actually, a group of firefighters at a different station were given the woman’s password and posing as her, the sources said.
At the request of someone whom he thought was the woman, the lieutenant partially disrobed and masturbated in front of a computer camera, which sent the images back to the other station where the firefighters looked on, the sources said. The sources said the incident was a gag meant to fill down time at the station. A female firefighter reported the incident. At least one of the computers used in the incident was a personal computer and was seized, sources said.
Unlike the Police Department, the Fire Department does not conduct many investigations into alleged employee misconduct, Curley said. He said the investigation is broader than any conducted by the Fire Department in recent memory.
“They don’t come up that often, and the fire chief is relying on city counsel,” he said.
Curley said outside help might be needed if the investigation involves technical computer issues. He said a deeper look into what firefighters do on their down time might be done later.
“What we have to do is get through this investigation first and take the other issues as they come,” he said.