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Female Nixa Firefighter Sues, Claims Sexual Harassment

Female Nixa Firefighter Sues, Claims Sexual Harassment

Female Nixa Firefighter Sues, Claims Sexual Harassment

A Nixa firefighter is suing several of her fellow firefighters and the fire department’s board of directors for sexual harassment.

Dana Osborne is the first woman hired by the Nixa Fire Department.

Attorney Heidi Sleper says the harassment started the first day on the job.

Sleper says the other firefighters made inappropriate remarks about Osborne, watched pornography and showed her nude photos.

The lawsuit says when she complained to her superiors, they did nothing to stop it.

“The problem is when you’ve got this behavior that’s being perpetuated by captains, when you’ve got this behavior that’s being ignored by chiefs, that perpetuates the culture within the department.”

Sleper says the department critiqued Osborne differently than the men and denied her training.

Sleper says the department didn’t give Osborne equipment made for women.

Osborne remains on the job.

Sleper says Osborne feels isolated.

She says most of firefighters have stayed away from her since she filed the lawsuit.

Sleper says Osborne is worried about what might happen to her.

“She’s had nightmares that she’s gonna be in a fire situation and her fellow firefighters are not going to help her. That fear has only gotten worse since she filed the lawsuit. So far, (the) Nixa (Fire Department) has done nothing to protect her.”

KTTS News has asked attorneys for the Nixa Fire Department for comment on the lawsuit.

So far, they have not returned our calls.

You can read the lawsuit in its entirety here.

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