By FireRescue1 Staff
KINGSVILLE, Ontario — Following a veteran fire chief’s arrest for alleged sexual abuse of a minor, an outside firm has been hired to conduct an internal investigation.
Kingsville Fire Chief Bob Kissner, 60, was arrested Saturday and charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation involving a 17-year-old, reported Windsor News.
“Our community has been taken aback,” Kingsville Mayor Nelson Santos said. “Our fire department personnel are, and continue to be, prepared to respond to any and all emergency calls without any disruption in service to our community.”
Municipal and department members will be interviewed as part of the investigation. The 48-member department has five paid employees, and the rest are volunteers.
The city’s junior firefighter program has also been placed on hold while the investigation is conducted. The program had recently been reinstated after a 10-year hiatus.
There’s been no indication whether or not the charges are connected to the program.
Chief Kissner is currently on paid leave; Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Dean has been appointed fire chief.
Apart from his 30 years of fire service, Chief Kissner is also the organist and long-time choir director of a local church, reported the Windsor Star.
Chief Kissner is out on bail; his court date is Jan. 10, 2017.