Lexington firefighter suspended for making comments about female subordinate’s appearance

A Lexington firefighter has been suspended for 120 hours without pay for harassment.

Lexington Fire Lt. Terrance Gatewood was accused three times between February and March of 2023 of making comments about a female firefighter’s physical appearance while he was her supervisor, according to city documents released Wednesday.

In one instance, Gatewood was coming up the stairs behind the female firefighter when he reportedly said: “The seams of those pants are putting in work.”

In another instance cited in the city charging documents against Gatewood, firefighters were making food and he looked at the female firefighter and said: “Yea. You’re getting thick.”

In another instance, Gatewood allegedly told the firefighter: “your thighs are looking proportionate now.”

Suspension and additional training

The incidents were turned over to the city’s human resources department and two of the three incidents were substantiated. Gatewood was interviewed and said he didn’t remember making the comment about the seams of the firefighter’s pants. He also said the firefighter said she was getting thick, not him, he told human resources.

In addition, to the 120-hour suspension, Gatewood was also ordered to take additional training. Gatewood has been with the fire department since 2004, according to city records.

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted to approve the 120-hour suspension after a more than four-hour disciplinary hearing Aug. 20.

The hearing was closed to the public at Gatewood’s request. Gatewood represented himself at the hearing. The details of the charges against Gatewood were not released by the city until Wednesday.

Not firefighter’s first suspension

This is not the first time Gatewood has run afoul of department regulations.

In October 2023, he was given a 120-hour suspension for failing to report on time or report for duty twice in June 2023. Gatewood was scheduled to work June 17 but failed to show up on time, according to Lexington council minutes. On June 23, Gatewood called five minutes before his shift started and reported he was not coming in.

Fire department personnel have strict rules regarding attendance because of the number of people required to staff the department’s ambulances and fire trucks.