Female Firefighter Sues Mercer Town Alleging Sexual Harassment

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A female firefighter has sued Hamilton Township, alleging that she suffered "severe, disgusting and ongoing sexual harassment” at the hands of a senior firefighter.

In a lawsuit filed in the superior court, the woman alleges that senior firefighter Henry Roldan “repeatedly and over a period of time sexually, physically and verbally assaulted and harassed” her.

When the rookie reported the matter to the Township, Roldan was allowed to resign with a clean record while she continued to suffer retaliation at the hands of his friends and former coworkers, the suit alleges.

According to the lawsuit, the rookie joined the Hamilton Fire Department on April 10, 2023. Within two weeks, Roldan started making comments about her “body, her rear end, and her clothing.”

A week later, when she began her 24-hour shift, Roldan texted her, saying “One week of knowing the most gorgeous and amazing women on this planet has me batting my eyes and at a loss for words.”

Over the next few months, Roldan sent the woman several inappropriate text messages, including saying he wanted to suck on her toes and play with her feet.

When the firefighter asked Roldan a question over text, he responded by saying, “You gotta send sexies first,” the lawsuit said. Roldan would constantly ask for nude or “spicy” photos.

When the rookie firefighter would tell Roldan to stop, he responded saying, “Why are you acting like this? Are you on your period?” according to the lawsuit.

On April 26, 2023, Roldan sent the woman a video of him driving past her house saying, “don’t you live here?”

Over the next month, Roldan followed the woman into the bathroom to listen to her urinate and even opened the door while she was showering at the Squad Fire House, asking if she needed help, the lawsuit alleges.

In the lawsuit, the woman said she was scared to report his behavior to anyone because she was a Probationary Firefighter and did not want to risk her job.

From July to mid-September 2023, Roldan was promoted to Captain and was moved to another position, reassigned to another fire house on a different shift. During that time, nothing happened as Roldan was not working in close proximity to the woman firefighter.

In September 2023, Roldan returned to De Cou Squad One Fire House and started with the same pattern of sexual touching and comments. He even slapped the woman’s rear end while she was climbing on the truck, the lawsuit alleges.

When she yelled at Roldan to stop touching her, he shut down and stopped talking to her and refused to work with her, the lawsuit alleges.

“Roldan would not respond to her questions and would ignore her when they were working together. This compromised the safety of the entire squad,” the lawsuit said.

In October 2023, the woman went to her captain to tell him about Roldan’s behavior. A few days later, the captain said he had talked to Roldan and he would “knock it off.”

Sometime later, the captain bought the woman and Roldan together to “air it out.”

In her lawsuit, the woman alleges that members of the crew knew something was wrong, but the captain made a point of telling everyone that “we are just going to keep this between us.”

A battalion chief who learned about the issue reported the sexual assault and harassment to the Township on October 19, 2023. Township officials then reached out to the woman and worked on the matter for several weeks.

During this time, the workplace became hostile, and several coworkers and friends of Roldan “were extremely harsh to her and she was victim shamed for having reported the assault and harassment,” the lawsuit alleges. As a result, the woman “became extremely depressed and suicidal.” She even began calling out of work as she did not feel safe or comfortable.

The woman later learned that the Township attorney had been working on a deal in which Roldan would be suspended without pay for eight months and transferred to another station and shift, the suit said.

Roldan ultimately resigned and was employed by Ewing Township.

In her lawsuit, the woman highlighted the failures of Hamilton Township and its Fire Department to conduct any HR training. “By failing to conduct these necessary trainings, the Township has adopted and ratified Roldan’s conduct,” the lawsuit said.

According to the rookie firefighter, the township also failed to provide safe and secure sleeping quarters, changing areas, and locking bathrooms for women firefighters.

“Hamilton Township and its Fire Dept. have shown no care and regard for its female firefighters and must be held to account,” the lawsuit said.

The woman is seeking compensatory damages, consequential damages, punitive damages, counsel fees and costs of suit, emotional distress damages, pre and post-judgment interest, and other equitable relief.

When contacted, the Township’s spokesperson said, “We deny the allegations against Hamilton Township, but can not comment further on active litigation.”

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