Investigation continues into sexual misconduct, harassment complaints within Orange County fire department

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Fire Rescue is looking into reports of a video showing a firefighter threesome and complaints of sexual misconduct and harassment within the department.

The investigation started when former Battalion Chief David Hollenbach started talking following his arrest during a domestic dispute. Investigators said that dispute happened when his ex-girlfriend learned he was sleeping with a rookie firefighter. The charges against him were eventually dropped.

On Oct. 11, 2019, Hollenbach called his superior, Assistant Chief James Bates, about problems, which included rumors of a threesome recorded in an ambulance.

READ: Sexual harassment, threesome in ambulance under investigation at Orange County Fire Rescue

He said the rookie firefighter he was romantically involved with told him she was being sexually harassed on the job.

The assistant chief said he scheduled a meeting with Hollenbach and a division chief the next week, which never happened because of Hollenbach’s arrest.

Records show the allegations weren't looked into until a week later when the investigators looking into Hollenbach saw inappropriate text messages from other firefighters on the rookie firefighter's phone.

Records show she didn’t want to come forward but eventually described cases of possible sexual harassment including groping and requests for sex from male and female firefighters.

At least eight firefighters are now being investigated for sexual harassment. The investigation into the allegations is still ongoing.

Records show another Battalion Chief, Leslie Reed, was also disciplined for making female county workers “uneasy.”

Ride-alongs with Reed were banned in the summer of 2018 after records show Reed told a lieutenant a public information officer was “the prettiest thing that has been in my truck in a long time.”

OCFR said Reed was verbally reprimanded for his actions.

The fire chief and mayor both said they will not comment on the investigation until after it's complete.

Commissioner Emily Bonilla said this is an opportunity for the county to discuss what is appropriate and what’s not and how to report it.

© 2020 Cox Media Group