WASHINGTON — Several D.C. female fire cadets are reportedly launching a formal complaint against the department over claims of sexual harassment.
The cadets are trained by mentors who bring them in from high school and train them in firefighting, according to WJLA.
Two female cadets have allegedly accused two training academy instructors of sexual harassment; one of their mothers say an instructor told one of the woman to address him as “daddy.”
The mother told the television station “It was alleged that they mentioned about shaking their behind, mentioning of their breasts to some of the young cadets,” she says. “These young girls,they are in a position where they have to look up to these people and they should be setting some kind of example and not preying on them.”
Fire Chief Kenneth Ellerbe said that he has learned of the allegations and takes them very seriously and said that he has remove the instructors in question and will take additional action if needed.
Chief Ellerbe later released a statement saying the allegations presented by WJLA are inaccurate and said that no employees have made any complaints of physical sexual misconduct as has been reported. He also said that an investigation has been launched and will be completed shortly.
One D.C. city councilmember said that if he’s not satisfied with Ellerbe’s report, the council will launch its own investigation.