FAIRFAX, Va. — Fairfax County Fire Chief Richard Bowers said a decision will likely be made soon to determine the third party that will assess聽whether聽the fire and rescue department is appropriately handling incidents and complaints of sexual and racial harassment.
Bowers said the county is close to deciding whether to enlist the services of a consultant that is already working with the county, or whether it will be necessary to issue a request for proposals.
鈥淭hat could take quite a bit of time, up to 200 days just for a request for proposals,鈥� said Bowers, if the county has to enlist new contractors.
Last week, the county Board of Supervisors announced it would hire an outside consultant to look at the workplace atmosphere within the nearly 2,000-employee department.
A spokesperson for board chairman Sharon Bulova confirms the determination of whether to choose a current consultant or recruit a new one should be made within the next month.
Bowers began aggressively shining a mirror on his own department after the disappearance of firefighter Nicole Mittendorff in April. It was brought to his attention that crude, anonymous posts about the firefighter-paramedic had been made in late 2015.
However, Bowers tells 草莓传媒 it may never be known if those anonymous posts about the 31-year-old Mittendorff could be attributed to department employees.
鈥淲ithout a subpoena and a criminal case, there鈥檚 only so far we can go [in investigating who posted the remarks about Mittendorff], so I have to be straight about that,鈥� Bowers said, in the Monday interview.
In alast week, Mittendorff鈥檚 husband, Steve Mittendorff and sister Jennifer Clardy Chalmers said they had no evidence that Nicole聽Mittendorff committed suicide because of the bullying, although she was aware of the postings.
鈥淚 think what we鈥檙e now seeing is those dots are not connected,鈥� said Bowers, echoing the comments of Mittendorff鈥檚 sister, Jennifer Clardy Chalmers, in that interview. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 say for sure, but I can say it鈥檚 looking like it was more personal.鈥�
Steve Mittendorff’s employer, Virginia State Police, is awaiting a final report from the medical examiner before officially closing the case, although the criminal investigation into her disappearance and death were closed after the preliminary autopsy determined Mittendorff had killed herself, said police spokesperson Corinne Geller.
Steve is a First Sergeant/Area Office commander in the state police Bureau of Field Operations.
Chief: 鈥業鈥檓 responsible. Period.鈥�
Though聽internal and external scrutiny of Fairfax County Fire and Rescue began during Mittendorff鈥檚 disappearance, which ended tragically, Bowers says he is embracing the opportunity to improve the department by inviting the observations from a third party.
Bowers said he was not aware of the online postings about Mittendorff before her disappearance.
While an outside entity will head the assessment, Bowers says he will be able to concentrate on improving day-to-day and long-term conditions within the agency.
鈥淚鈥檓 responsible. Period,鈥� Bowers said. 鈥淓verything that goes on in the department, whether I know or don鈥檛 know, I am responsible. I鈥檓 the chief.鈥�
At times, “another set of eyes is needed,” Bowers acknowledged.
鈥淪ometimes when you just look at yourself, you see things that are obvious, but sometimes there are other things,鈥� said Bowers. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 the right thing to do, it鈥檚 the only thing to do right now.鈥�
Bowers said he believes an outsider鈥檚 perspective will be beneficial.
鈥淚t鈥檒l help me, as the fire chief. It鈥檒l help the fire department. It鈥檒l help this county,鈥� he said.
While he hears and understands the public鈥檚 desire for assurances the department is on sound footing, Bowers says the assessment shouldn鈥檛 be rushed.
鈥淚t鈥檚 gonna take a good while,鈥� said Bowers. 鈥淚t could take up to a year to get this completely done, top/down and bottom/up.鈥�
鈥淭he most important thing is I want it right, and I want it accurate, and I want it transparent,鈥� Bowers said.
Change starts now
While there may be a few 鈥渂ad apples,鈥� Bowers said he believes 鈥渢he overwhelming majority, if not all鈥� of his employees perform their duties professionally and respectfully.
鈥淢y belief is that we鈥檙e not upside down,鈥� Bowers said. 鈥淢y belief is that we鈥檙e gonna find some things that we probably, without question, need to strengthen and improve upon.鈥�
He said he expects additional training will be an outcome of the assessment.
Bowers said he will not wait until the review is completed before ensuring a comfortable and legal work environment.
鈥淚鈥檓 having everybody review our current policies on sexual harassment and code of conduct,鈥� said Bowers, adding there will be a mandatory officers鈥� meeting at the end of June to discuss sexual harassment, equal employment opportunities and the law.
Bowers said the department鈥檚 official in charge of professional standards, Guy Morgan, . Morgan, who is in charge of investigating complaints, reportedly had聽Facebook posts picturing scantily-clad women. The posts were first reported by WUSA 9.
Morgan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
As he attempts to simultaneously assess and tweak potential problems within his department, Bowers said he remains dedicated to doing what he can for Nicole Mittendorff鈥檚 husband and family.
鈥淚 want to make sure her legacy is what she did here to serve the residents of Fairfax County, and her brother and sister firefighters,鈥� Bowers said.
