Austin to review EMS training sex complaints

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Austin to review EMS training sex complaints

Allegations of harassment involve four cadets and two

instructors.Listen to this article or download audio file.

By Kreytak

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Thursday, December 06, 2007

The City of Austin has hired an outside investigator to review

allegations of sexual harassment at a paramedic training event last

month, said Ernesto , acting director of Austin- County

Emergency Medical Services.

declined to discuss specifics or name the people involved.

The alleged misbehavior, he said, occurred in early November when the

14-person cadet class and EMS instructors stayed overnight in

Northwest Austin for a team-building exercise.

The event, in which the cadets sleep over for two nights, is part of

the department's 13-week training academy, said.

said he learned of the sexual harassment allegations last

week during a phone call from an employee who knows one of the cadets

involved. He said that four cadets — two men and two women — were

involved along with a male instructor and a female instructor. The

cadets continue to participate in the training program, but the

instructors have been suspended with pay during the investigation.

" We want a thorough and fair, competent, unbiased investigation, " he said.

skreytak@...; 912-2946

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