The Town of Kingsville will hire a third party to conduct an arms-length investigation of the town’s longstanding fire chief.
Bob Kissner, 60, was arrested on Saturday following an investigation into alleged sexual offences involving a 17-year-old.
He's facing two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual exploitation.
Mayor Nelson Santos tells CTV News the internal investigation will involve interviews with municipal staff and members of the fire department. There are 48 members of the fire department. Five are paid staff and the rest are volunteers.
Santos adds it will not interfere with the OPP probe.
Many residents have expressed shock at the allegations against Kissner, who has been suspended with pay.
Kissner has led the fire departments in Kingsville and Leamington for more than 30 years.
He is now out on bail. His next court appearance is Jan. 10, 2017.
“Our community has been taken aback,” says Santos. “Our fire department personnel are, and continue to be prepared to respond to any and all emergency calls without any disruption in service to our community.”
Santos says emergency calls for fires haven't been affected. The town has appointed deputy fire chief Jeff Dean as acting fire chief effective immediately.
But the town’s Junior Firefighters program, to help attract young people interested in firefighting, has been put on hold.
Council only re-instated the program two weeks after a ten-year hiatus.
Santos says they do not have the resources to follow through with the program at this time.
