ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A now-fired battalion chief reported “a culture of sexual harassment” within the department, and detailed multiple incidents of sexual harassment reported to him by a rookie firefighter with whom he was in a sexual relationship.
At least four firefighters were named in the report, and are accused of being “creepy” or sexually harassing female firefighters.
Battalion Chief David Hollenbach was fired for not being truthful with the county about a sexual relationship with the rookie firefighter, and not reporting the allegations of potential sexual harassment under his command.
In October, he was put on pay without leave after he was arrested for battery in Seminole County following a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, after she allegedly found love letters written to Hollenbach from the rookie.
Read: Orange County battalion chief fired after domestic violence arrest, misconduct reports
The rookie told Hollenbach that some firefighters were “sending pictures of genitals” and “firefighters (were) coming up behind her and rubbing their genitals against her buttocks.”
One firefighter allegedly touched the rookie "on the breast while she was working out, and another told her “he sleepwalks and she should not be surprised to find him in her bunk,” she told Hollenbach.
Hollenbach told investigators it was “clearly sexual harassment," but the rookie said she did not “want to be that girl” and report it. Hollenbach didn’t immediately report it because he was “gaining her trust” and told investigators he “was trying to do the right thing.”
However, he did give superiors the names of other women after talking to “many female firefighters” but said “no one would come forward on record.”
The county investigator said Hollenbach put himself in an “ethical dilemma.”
Hollenbach told British tabloid The Daily Mail that there is video of a threesome involving firefighters inside an ambulance.
Via text message, Hollenabch told Channel 9 that he laid everything out during a taped interview with the county before he was fired.
Read: Former Orange County battalion chief could get position back after affair with 911 dispatcher
In a statement, Orange County Fire Rescue said, “We are a department that will not tolerate harassment of any kind, in any form, by or towards any member of our team.”
No resignations, firings or discipline as of the new investigation have happened as a result of this investigation, the county said. The investigation could wrap up as early as next week.
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