The Columbus Dispatch
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Civil Service Commission says the city is justified in firing firefighter Marc Cain, who was accused of having sex with his mistress at a fire station, sending her a photo of his genitals while on duty and disobeying orders to not take her to his room.
Commission members said this afternoon that they found “credible evidence to uphold the decision” of the city to fire Cain. They will issue a written finding later.
In closing arguments this morning, Cain’s attorney, John C. Camillus said Cain should not be fired because he did not have sex with the woman at Station 17 on the Hilltop and because his actions weren’t out of line in a station that had an “oversexualized frat-house culture,” that overlooked sexual misconduct unless it got into the news. Cain also should not be fired because he is a decorated firefighter who is good at his job, Camillus said.
But Assistant City Attorney Wendy S. Kane pointed out that even though Cain testified today that he never had sex with the woman at the firehouse, there was overwhelming testimony that he did. At some points, the woman was at the firehouse every day and routinely stayed in Cain’s room late at night even after his superiors had told him to stop taking her to his room, the assistant city attorney said.
Worst, the lawyer for the city said, Cain has been shown to be dishonest when he said he didn’t have sex with the woman at the fire station.
The public has to trust firefighters, Kane said.
Commission members surprised Camillus when they said that they would render their decision after their regular October meeting started at 12:30 p.m. today.
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