Minneapolis and Columbia, Mo., don't appear to have much in common; however, each has a fire chief who's making negative headlines.

Minneapolis Fire Chief Bonnie Bleskachek has been on leave following charges of sexual harassment and discrimination, with three lawsuits from female firefighters and one from a male firefighter pending against her. According to a Nov.29 article from the Associated Press, a Minneapolis city panel voted to fire Bleskachek rather than agree to a negotiated plan for her to step down.

Bleskachek started her career as a firefighter, quickly rising through the ranks to captain, battalion chief and interim chief. She became chief of the department in December 2004 with the support and confidence of the former fire chief. Meanwhile in Columbia, Mo., full-time Fire Chief Steve Paulsell, Boone County Fire Protection District, continues to be embroiled in an ongoing controversy that involves his personal relationship with Asst. Chief Sharon Curry, his former administrative assistant. The Boone County Fire Protection District covers more square miles than any other fire department in Missouri, with over 200 volunteers and 11 stations.

Paulsell was FIRE CHIEF's first Volunteer Chief of the Year in 1996. He has served as an instructor for numerous courses at the IAFC's Fire-Rescue International, testified before a U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and been actively involved within the State of Missouri's emergency response programs. However, he's making other headlines now.

According to the Missourian, this past summer several former employees, including the former assistant fire chief, filed Title VII complaints against the fire district with the Missouri Human Rights Commission. After negotiations broke down, a federal lawsuit was filed this past week. Unlike Bleskachek, Paulsell is still in the chief's chair.

Two fire chiefs — from career and volunteer departments — both involved in lawsuits with their staff as a result of harassment issues.

Two years ago I moderated a panel of women fire chiefs at a conference for Women in the Fire Service. Bleskachek was one of the fire chiefs on the panel. With less than a year under her belt as chief, she sounded like she had a lot going for her. One question I asked the panel was if they, as women fire chiefs, expected more from the women firefighters in their department.

Bleskachek replied, "I think if you asked the women, they'd say no, but the men would say there was favoritism. With the few numbers [of women firefighters] we have in the fire service, we still have the belief — perception, reality — that what one does affects all of us. It's not what Bonnie Bleskachek does, it's what a woman firefighter did or didn't do.

"I do have a level of expectation when something happens to one of my women firefighters, because it's 'oh man!' I know what's going to happen with all the rest of the women firefighters is that it's going to be such a problem for them. Is it fair? I don't think so, but I think there is a subconscious belief that I expect more and I want more because I want them to be successful, and that's one of the barriers they have to deal with."

Two chiefs in two Midwestern cities with two different outcomes — so far.

Janet Wilmoth, Editorial Director
janet@firechief.com