Days after the head of a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department advocacy group for female firefighters issued a resignation letter, charging lax attitudes toward sexual harassment, the chief says he doesn’t believe the department has major issues and that he has no plans to resign.
“We take all claims seriously of bullying, harassment and retaliation,” Fire Chief Richard Bowers said at a Thursday afternoon news conference.
Bowers said many of the claims made in Battalion Chief Kathleen Stanley’s scathing resignation letter were unfounded.
“I can tell you that the allegations are misleading,” Bowers said. “Many of the allegations were investigated and significant countywide resources were committed to addressing all founded concerns.”