Illinois Firefighter Suspended After Making Sexual Harassment Complaint

Follow @curtvarone

Posted by: Curt Varone 3 hours ago 0 Comments

An Illinois firefighter who filed additional sexual harassment allegations against her department last week, has been suspended.

Country Club Hills firefighter Dena Lewis-Bystrzycki was suspended last week, allegedly after she spoke with reporters about the updated pleadings she filed in an ongoing sexual harassment suit against the city. Those pleadings accused supervisors of allowing subordinated to watch porn at the fire station.

The Chicago tribune quoted Lewis-Bystrzycki’s attorney, Dana Kurtz, as saying the suspension is “simply more retaliation against her. It sends a clear message to everyone ‘do not complain or this is what will happen to you.’”

Here is a link to a video on the story that would not embed:http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/cbs_chicag-woman-firefighter-files-s-20150827-premiumvideo.html

COMMENTS - ADD YOURS

ABOUT CURT VARONE

Curt Varone has over 40 years of fire service experience and 30 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.