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Illinois Firefighter Suspended After Making Sexual Harassment Complaint

An Illinois firefighter who was already suing her fire department for sexual harassment was suspended last week after she filed additional harassment allegations.

Country Club Hills firefighter Dena Lewis-Bystrzycki was suspended after she spoke with reporters about updated pleadings filed in her 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

Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 50 years of fire service experience and 40 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. Besides his law degree, he has a MS in Forensic Psychology. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.

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One Comment

  1. Once again, more Incompetence from the “Chief’s” level on down. And with this suspension the more “Felony” stupid he has become.

    Now instead of a simple settlement,. this will cost the City more time and money and once again, this City too may be faced with “Browning Out” a fire station to help cover the city’s increased insurance costs and…..

    This City will “Pass the Trash” (as Dave Statter has written on his blog) to the next unsuspecting community, when this Chief moves on with his terminated contract $$$ payout looking to his next mis-adventure.

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