New Controversy in Pa. Fire Dept. Sex Scandal

Feb. 08--THE LURID SEX scandal that has haunted the Philadelphia Fire Department since it became public a week ago has, amazingly, become even more controversial.

Joe Schulle, the president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 22, suggested at a news conference yesterday that the city is trying to cover up information about the scandal, which is threatening to topple the careers of seven Fire Department employees.

Schulle said the union has only received redacted portions of a report summing up an Inspector General's Office investigation into allegations that numerous firefighters had sexual encounters with a woman paramedic, who, multiple sources have said, is mentally troubled.

The I.G.'s Office cited seven people for disciplinary violations, Schulle said: two battalion chiefs, one captain, one lieutenant, one paramedic and two firefighters.

But the I.G.'s Office has refused to share with the union portions of the report that detailed allegations against eight other Fire Department employees, as well as potential systemic problems with the Fire Department that the investigation uncovered.

"There is no legitimate reason why they will not provide us with the whole report," Schulle said.

"We can't speculate as to what they are covering up or hiding, but our perception is there must be something in the report they don't want us to see if they're not providing the whole report."

Local 22 filed a Right-to-Know request in an attempt to obtain the full report.

Schulle said the city also has refused to share a complete copy of a complaint the woman paramedic filed in the spring with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

If that weren't bad enough, Schulle claimed that Fire Department officials coerced the female paramedic into filing the complaint, and then told her and other subjects of the I.G.'s investigation that they didn't need to notify the union before being interviewed.

"We're considering filing an unfair-labor practice," he said. "That's really what leads us to be suspect about the motives of the department."

Sources previously told the Daily News that the woman paramedic is a troubled young woman who has tried to take her life, and was repeatedly taken advantage of by colleagues and superiors, some of whom had sex with her in city firehouses.

In at least one instance, the sources said, the paramedic was filmed while she was naked, and led around by a leash attached to a dog collar.

Of the seven Fire Department members singled out for discipline, one battalion chief and two other employees were charged by the I.G.'s Office with conduct unbecoming for allegedly having "consensual, off-duty sexual relationships" with the paramedic, Schulle said.

A fourth was charged by the I.G.'s Office with having sex with the paramedic in a city firehouse, even though, according to Schulle, no evidence could be found to substantiate the claim.

He said others were cited for sexual harassment based on "inappropriate behavior while at work," "failure to supervise" and "violations of social media policy."

Their potential punishments remain to be seen.

Mayor Nutter's spokesman, Mark McDonald, said any allegations of wrongdoing within the Fire Department are brought before a Trial Board, which will make a disciplinary recommendation to Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer.

The commissioner can accept, reject or modify the suggested penalties.

Neither Sawyer nor the Nutter administration responded to Schulle's comments.

The union president said the Fire Department doesn't have any rules regarding fraternization, even though women have served in the organization for 30 years.

Schulle said the woman paramedic is "having a difficult time," and he worries that she could face discipline from the Fire Department.

"We don't know whether she is going to be disciplined or not," said Regina Hertzig, Local 22's lawyer, "but given the department's handling of her from the minute this became apparent, we are concerned that there will be a revictimization."

On Twitter: @dgambacorta

Copyright 2015 - Philadelphia Daily News