Workers accuse Delco emergency dispatcher of sexual abuse – NBC10 Philadelphia

Delaware County Emergency Services Department Director Timothy Boyce has been suspended by county officials after allegations of sexual abuse and gender and age discrimination.

The move comes after two people who claim to have worked in Boyce’s office filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, saying Boyce did not hire and promote employees based on his own “sexist personal preferences.” due to his experience or skills.

One of the workers also claims she was sexually abused by Boyce.

“What happened is simply outrageous,” said Mark D. Schwartz, the attorney representing the employees in the case. “It makes me sick.”

In documents submitted to the EEOC with claims against Boyce, an employee — whom Schwartz described as “senior” — complained that she had worked in Boyce’s office for decades, but that her hours had been cut and she had switched jobs with someone else senior executives have to share.

This worker claimed that other, younger female employees received preferential treatment and those with little to no experience were promoted instead. In one alleged example, a newly hired employee with no experience in government work was given her own office and promoted ahead of the employee who had decades of experience, the document said.

“In these and other cases, job descriptions turn out to be fake. “It is all a matter of Mr. Boyce’s sexist personal preference for the fiefdom he is allowed to run,” the complaint states.

Another employee, the complaint says, accuses Boyce of sexually assaulting her in his office on Jan. 30, 2024.

In the complaint, the worker claims that the county was made aware of Boyce’s behavior back in March.

“Yet he was allowed to stay, posing an ongoing threat to women,” the employee wrote in the complaint.

According to that complaint, that employee – who only had a background as a hairdresser – was hired by Boyce as a coordinator in December of last year and soon realized that the hiring was “consistent with his practice of independently recruiting and promoting attractive young women.” Job description or skill.”

According to court documents, that employee said she was quickly promoted to Boyce’s executive assistant and given her own office next to his, just about a month after she was first hired.

The employee claimed Boyce made inappropriate comments, calling her “fascinating” and saying she had “a nice butt,” the document said.

Finally, on Jan. 30, Boyce allegedly invited her to his office, where he grabbed her face and pulled her in for a kiss, the complaint says. Boyce also allegedly gave the employee a kiss on the cheek after she turned her face.

He then allegedly told her, “You have a really nice butt, let me feel it,” before grabbing the employee’s butt, the complaint says.

The employee said she then cried in her car and called in from work the next day. She said she texted Boyce directly a few days later and told him, “You took advantage of me.”

“She texted him and said, ‘You treated me like a piece of meat,'” Schwartz said. “It’s a cover-up.”

Boyce reportedly responded, “That was never my intention and I apologize.” I respect you. It was never my intention to hit on you,” the complaint states.

In a statement responding to the claims, Delaware County officials said they immediately placed Boyce on administrative leave upon learning of an investigation into the allegations.

“The county council is committed to protecting our workforce and part of that commitment is to ensure a fair and thorough investigation of any complaints or allegations made by our county team. The safety of all district employees is the top priority for the district council and the district administration. Harassment, discrimination and/or retaliation will not be tolerated in the county, and the council is committed to ensuring the work environment is safe for all county employees,” county officials wrote in a statement to NBC10.

In that statement, officials said they were also questioning members of Boyce’s office.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office told NBC10 it is conducting its own investigation into these allegations.

Boyce was suspended with pay and did not return multiple attempts Thursday to reach him for comment.