Tim Boyce, director of emergency services at Delco, has been suspended amid sexual harassment allegations

Delaware County Emergency Medical Services Director Tim Boyce has been placed on leave after a former employee accused him of groping and forcibly kissing her in his office in early April, county officials said Wednesday.

According to a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, another employee claimed in January that Boyce paid her less and created a hostile work environment for her because of his “sexist hiring practices with younger women.”

Boyce, 60, was placed on administrative leave on April 25, the day county council members were first made aware of the sexual harassment allegations, according to County Council President Monica Taylor. His deputy, Ed Beebe, has taken over leadership of the department in his absence.

Attempts to reach Boyce were unsuccessful Wednesday.

Boyce has served as chief of emergency services since 2016, overseeing 125 employees, coordinating fire and police operations and managing the county’s emergency call center. Prior to his time with the district, Boyce worked as an internal security coordinator for the district attorney’s office and as a deputy chief for the Upper Darby Fire Department.

The woman who accused him of sexual harassment wrote in an EEOC complaint that Boyce was a longtime friend of her family. He hired her as a part-time coordinator in his department in December, but a month later promoted her to his executive assistant and moved her to an office next to his.

She claimed this was part of his well-known practice of hiring and promoting “attractive young women regardless of job description or skills.”

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During her time with Boyce, the woman said he often made inappropriate comments to her, saying she was “very fascinating” and “had a nice butt,” according to her complaint.

On Jan. 30, she said, Boyce called her into his office, pulled her close and grabbed her face and cheeks to kiss her, the complaint says. The woman turned her head, and Boyce kissed her neck instead and asked if he could touch her butt. He then groped her as she walked away.

The woman said she was shocked and emotionally devastated by his behavior and quit her job shortly afterwards. She later confronted him via text message and told him she was outraged that he had used “his power as a predatory man and boss” to take advantage of her.

The complaint said Boyce responded to that text message, apologizing and saying he never intended to harm her.

Taylor, the county council chairman, said in an interview Wednesday that the county took the allegations seriously and acted quickly to address them.

“When the allegations were presented to us, they were very serious and we wanted to ensure there was an environment where people felt safe to come forward and disclose any concerns or allegations they may have,” she said. “Harassment and discrimination will not be tolerated in this county.”

Mark Schwartz, an attorney for the two women who filed complaints against Boyce, said Wednesday that he also notified District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer on April 2, the day he filed the sexual harassment complaint with the EEOC.

Representatives for Stollsteimer and Attorney General Michelle Henry said the investigation was later referred to Henry’s office to avoid conflicts of interest; County investigators often work closely with the department Boyce oversees.

Schwartz said he first filed the complaint about the age discrimination allegations in January, when a district worker complained about working conditions under Boyce. The 67-year-old woman wrote that Boyce put her in a shared cubicle with another older woman and reduced her hours in favor of younger, more attractive female employees.

After receiving no response from the district and being contacted by the second woman about her sexual harassment claim, Schwartz said he reached out to Stollsteimer out of frustration.

Schwartz said since Boyce’s suspension was made public, other district employees have reached out to him about their own issues with Boyce’s management. Schwartz said he was finalizing a third EEOC complaint Wednesday but declined to provide further details.