Firefighters union and commissioners call for strengthening Austin Fire Department's sexual harassment policy

  • Source: Austin Monitor
  • Published: 12/06/2019 12:00 AM

In the aftermath of several public sexual harassment cases, Austin EMS and the police and fire departments are updating their sexual harassment policies to create consistency across city emergency services. The action comes in the wake of Austin Fire Department Lt. James Baker’s guilty plea to hiding a camera and filming firefighter Kelly Gall in the fire station restroom. The incident culminated with Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore offering Baker a plea deal that consisted of five years’ probation and the loss of his EMT and firefighting licenses. Austin Fire Captain Christine Jones came to the Dec. 2 meeting of the Public Safety Commission to share a similar story about the harassment, gender-specific insults and slurs she was subjected to by Captain Roger Scarcliff while on the job. As a result of her complaint, Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker suspended Scarcliff for just one day.



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