A veteran San Francisco firefighter has been stripped of his high-profile command position amid allegations that he sexually harassed a subordinate, NBC Bay Area has learned.
Ken Lombardi, 48, a 27-year veteran, was notified Friday that he was being demoted from assistant deputy chief to his civil service rank of captain, which involves a cut in pay.
Lombardi, who did not return calls seeking comment, filed for medical leave soon after being notified of his removal from the staff by Chief Joanne Hayes-White.
Lombardi has recently asserted, according to sources, that he suffered a neck injury when a garage door struck him while on duty.
Fire department spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge would not comment on any personnel matter.
Lombardi had served as Hayes-White’s head of support services, charged with overseeing equipment upgrades and earthquake preparedness.
Several sources with knowledge of the matter say that the allegations involve multiple incidents of sexual harassment involving a civilian who worked in the support services office.
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In his role as support services, Lombardi had been in charge of logistics and earthquake preparations.
The action against Lombardi comes after NBC Bay Area first reported last month allegations of intimidation and hazing of a female firefighter at Station No. 2 in Chinatown.
A Department of Human Resources investigation found that at least one firefighter urinated in the fellow firefighter’s bed and smeared feces in the women’s locker room.
In that case, Hayes-White removed the entire chain of commanders at that station, citing management “deficiencies.” The investigation into who is responsible for the harassment continues, although two firefighters have already been transferred from the station.
