Stowe fire chief sacked after sexual assault allegations

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STOWE, Vt. (WCAX) – According to the Stowe Reporter, nearly a year after being charged with raping a woman and put on paid administrative leave, the Stowe fire chief was fired.

The Stowe Reporter writes that Kyle Walker was dismissed from his post on Wednesday night.

Back in January, Rachel Fisher accused Walker of repeatedly sexually assaulting her while he was a police officer in Stowe.

Walker was an officer from 2008 and became fire chief in 2019.

Following a Vermont State Police investigation into the allegations last spring, prosecutors declined to press charges against Walker.

Chief Executive Charles Safford said on Wednesday he made the move because he didn’t believe Walker had regained public trust amid the allegation.

Walker has five days to appeal the decision to the city’s board of directors.

Fisher’s attorney, Christina Nolan, writes in a statement to Channel 3 News:

“Through her courage, Rachel Fisher sent a powerful message on her behalf and that of sexual assault survivors around the world: Survivors must be believed and supported and those in positions of public trust must hold predators accountable. and ensure the safety of their communities. It is encouraging that the city has finally made the right decision to fire Kyle Walker, a sexual predator who admitted to having committed sexual misconduct while in the service of a Stowe police officer. The city’s decision is surely due in part to Walker’s own conduct after his crimes were exposed, and in particular his lying about the extent of his misconduct.

Channel 3 News reached out to Safford and the Stowe Selection Committee for comment, but did not receive an immediate response.

Related stories:

Woman publicly accuses ex-Stowe cop of sexual assault

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