BOSTON (AP) — Boston Mayor Marty Walsh says the city has hired an outside counsel to review the Boston Fire Department's handling of harassment and discrimination allegations brought by some women firefighters.
Walsh said Sunday he reached out to attorney Kay Hodge, a partner at Stoneman, Chandler & Miller LLP, to conduct the review after being informed by The Boston Globe about allegations from some of the women in the department.
Three of the women told the newspaper for a story Sunday they faced a pattern of harassment, discrimination, and sexism. They said they don't often report problems because they don't feel believed by the administration and fear being blamed.
Just 16 of the city's 1,500 firefighters are women.
Fire Commissioner Joseph Finn said he takes the safety and dignity of all firefighters seriously.
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