By FireRescue1 Staff
TORONTO — A Toronto firefighter was charged with several counts of sexual assault following allegations a female colleague made earlier this year.
Kevin Hughes was charged Tuesday for sexual assault and assault with a weapon, reported CBC. He has been on leave and “out of the workplace” since 2012.
Firefighter Jamie Wilson came forward with the allegations in June, stating bullying and harassment have been a persistent issue in the department for the last 10 years.
Since joining the service in 2006, Wilson claims she’s had to change fire stations three times between 2008 and 2010 after making the allegations. She told CBC she was repeatedly punched by a male colleague in 2013.
The city offered Wilson a position in fire prevention in September, but she declined.
“I was so proud of being a firefighter,” Wilson said. “I do love the job, but there’s just all the discrimination and retaliation … I just can’t go back.”
Following the incident, an investigation was conducted over the span of nine months, which also included harassment complaints involving 24 other male firefighters. The investigation concluded that inappropriate comments were made and that Wilson was punched on one occasion.
“What I can advise is that we take this matter very seriously and are cooperating fully with the police investigation,” city spokesperson Wynna Brown said.