News report: Attempted rape & harassment charges against MD fire company members
From Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company website.
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News reports and a statement from the chief confirm that three current members and one former member of the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company in Harford County, Maryland are facing criminal charges involving a sexual assault against a member of the department.
Acoording to WJZ-TV, Chief Will Rosenberg became aware of the harassment and assault allegations less than two weeks ago. He then notified the Harford County Sheriff’s Office which filed charges on Friday. The charges, according to the TV station, include attempted 1st degree rape and harassment.
Erika Butler, The Baltimore Sun:
Cristie Kahler, director of media relations for the Sheriff’s Office, confirmed Monday that the investigation began Dec. 3 into “reported harassment and assault was part of an ongoing course of conduct that occurred between June and November of 2017.”
Two specific incidents outlined in charges included an attempted sexual assault of a 17-year-old member during the summer and a harassment incident on Nov. 22, Kahler wrote in an email.
Upon conclusion of their investigation, according to the fire company and Kahler, Sheriff’s Office investigators criminally charged four people with offenses ranging from attempted first-degree rape to harassment, according to the fire company.
Statement from Chief Will Rosenberg, Fallston Volunteer Fire & Ambulance Company:
Our very assertive posture will continue, as we remain focused and vigilant in rooting out and removing anyone from our ranks who engages in illegal, immoral or unethical behavior. It simply won’t be tolerated, everyone is accountable. Personally, I am both angry and disgusted by the assertions as the alleged behavior is not acceptable by any standard, particularly the highly principled threshold we demand among our members. Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company service has not been interrupted and we continue to fulfill our mission of serving and protecting the community through the administration of fire, rescue and EMS services—an unwavering commitment many have had since the company was founded more than 40 years ago. While we anticipate and fully understand requests for more substantive media interviews, we will not release any additional information – we must remain respectful to the integrity of the criminal justice process. Thank you for your patience and understanding our stance. There is nothing more important to both our internal and external community than trust and I will continue to do everything in my power to transparently uphold that firm commitment.
