FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (WUSA9) – The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department announced a “full and complete” investigation into posts on local web forum “Fairfax Underground” about the suicide of firefighter-paramedic Nicole MIttendorff.
During a press conference Friday afternoon, Fire Chief Richie Bowers urged the site’s owner to take down the posts.
“This social media stuff, and the blog stuff that’s anonymous, is ridiculous. And that’s why I’m appealing to the person who hosts this site to take down the lewd comments and certainly consider shutting the site down,” Bowers said.
The owner of Fairfax Underground, Cary Wiedemann, said he would not take down the posts unless he faced a court order or a direct request from the Mittendorff family.
“Nobody has ever filed an abuse report about those comments,” Wiedemann said, explaining that personal attacks are not allowed on the forum and registered users must make a request to take something down, he said.
Wiedemann said he found Chief Bowers’ request “a deflection of blame.” and that he would not take down the site either. There are similar posts on Facebook pages and “he’s not calling for Facebook to be shutdown,” said Wiedemann.
Six days after she went missing, Mittendorff's body was found at the Shenandoah National Park.
According to police, a suicide note was found in Mittendorff's car and investigators do not suspect any foul play in her death. Virginia State Police have concluded their investigation after the State Medical Examining ruled her cause of death to be suicide by hanging.
State Police won’t reveal what was in the note, but their investigation found no evidence of bullying or harassment of MIttendorff.
Chief Richie Bowers said he has a “zero tolerance” policy against bullying and harassment of any kind. He pledged to leave no stone unturned in trying to find out who made the posts.
If it’s determined a county employee or volunteer is responsible, Bowers said he would hold them accountable, which could include termination from their job.
Chief Bowers said the Fairfax Fire and Rescue Department will establish a task force with female firefighters and other employee groups to address any issues related to discrimination, harassment and bullying in the workforce. He said there are 165 women firefighters, including recruits, among an entire force of about 1,400.
In the wake of her death, people expressed outrage over sexist online comments about Mittendorff and other Fairfax County female firefighters. The postings on Fairfax Underground, appeared to be from fellow firefighters, though they are anonymous.
The postings began several years ago, not long after Mittendorf began her career with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue department and Fairview Station 32. It's not known if Mittendorff saw the postings, but retired federal government worker and Fairfax County resident Jane McKinley thinks it's likely. She's concerned the cyber-bulling may have played a role in her death.
"I was alarmed and wanted to let the public know that there was this blog out there that was defaming these female firefighters and medics, not only Nicole but others as well," McKinley said Monday.
The department also announced that they will be creating a task force to address any issues related to “discrimination, harassment, and bullying in the workplace.” The task force will include female firefighters, the IAFF Local 2068 and other employee groups.
