The city of Mobile has opened an investigation into a Mobile Fire-Rescue firefighter’s allegation that she was inappropriately touched by a fire captain while working at a station.
Public Safety Director Lawrence Battiste said the complaint was reported in December 2021. No one had been placed on administrative leave so far, he added, but the city is treating the claim seriously.
“Sexual harassment, whether it’s between two equals or whether it’s between someone that is superior to the other, is unacceptable,” Battiste said.
The allegation is being investigated both by the city and by the Office of Professional Responsibility, a branch of the U.S. Department of Justice. Officials said investigators were still working to interview the firefighter and expected to wrap up within a few weeks, with any disciplinary action to follow based on the findings.
Battiste pushed back on talk that some firefighters had resigned over the complaint, calling that an unfounded allegation — though he acknowledged the department may have had resignations, none were tied specifically to sexual harassment as far as he knew.
He also dismissed concern about fallout for recruiting, arguing that what matters is how allegations are investigated and acted upon. “Every allegation of sexual harassment will always be investigated with the vigor that it should be,” he said. “We treat it as though it happened until we are able to disprove it did not happen.”
The fire station where the incident allegedly occurred is not being identified in order to protect the firefighter’s privacy.