UPDATED – Sexual misconduct investigation targets MD volunteer fire company
The Baltimore County Fire Department has suspended two members of the department without pay as part of a sexual misconduct investigation. The investigation centers on the Reisterstown Volunteer Fire Company in Baltimore County where the two county career employees also serve as volunteers.
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Baltimore County police spokeswoman Elise Armacost confirmed that police executed a search warrant Wednesday night against the firefighters and the alleged sexual misconduct occurred at the volunteer fire station. Armacost added the investigation began in mid-January and no charges had been filed as of 4 p.m. Thursday.
“This is an ongoing criminal investigation involving members of the Reisterstown Volunteer Fire Co., who are also career members of the fire department,” Armacost said.
Armacost said she could not go into specifics regarding the nature of the investigation and did not divulge the names or ranks of those under investigation. She said the investigation is expected to be completed within the next two weeks.
A search warrant related to the investigation was executed.
WBAL-TV 11 News has learned that one employee is a probationary EMT and the second employee is an EMT/firefighter.
No charges have been filed, but officials said the investigation is not complete.
Alison Knezevich & Pamela Wood, The Baltimore Sun:
A police investigation began in January after a county fire commander heard about allegations of sexual misconduct involving the Reisterstown volunteer company, Armacost said.
Volunteer fire companies in the county are independent organizations. They are partly funded by the government.
J.P. Snyder, president of the volunteer company, said the organization learned of the investigation Monday and that he had little information about the allegations. The company’s members are cooperating with the police investigation and trying to stay focused on their work, he said.
“The conduct of two individuals will not keep the fire company from doing what we do,” he said.
Statement from Reisterstown VFC:
The officers and members of the Reisterstown Volunteer Fire Company were informed of an investigation by the Baltimore County Police Department. The Reisterstown Volunteer Fire Company is fully cooperating with the police department. All of the accused individuals have been suspended from the Reisterstown Volunteer Fire Company pending the outcome of the investigation. Because this is an ongoing investigation, no further information can be released at this time.
