“Felix Arroyo has been terminated from the City of Boston after a comprehensive internal investigation,’’ said Laura Oggeri, the city’s communications chief. “The city will immediately begin to search for candidates to fill the chief of health and human services position and we hope to announce an appointment soon.”
The female employee had filed a complaint that alleged Arroyo “spanked” her buttocks and made inappropriate sexual comments, the Boston Globe reports. She also alleged that Arroyo grabbed her by the back of her neck after he learned she was planning to file a complaint.
After complaining to city officials, the woman alleges that she was demoted. The woman also named other city officials in her complaint, including Mayor Martin J. Walsh. She filed her complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
“I like that tight dress you’re wearing,” the woman alleges that Arroyo told her. “He also grabbed my bottom on several occasions and spanked it frequently,” the complaint notes. A spokeswoman for Arroyo, Colette Phillips, said prior to his firing that the “allegations are baseless and retaliatory.”
Arroyo had been placed on paid leave July 28, the Boston Globe reports. The employee’s allegations also sparked a police investigation.
“I don’t think we have fundamental issues with people [being] afraid to come forward with any type of . . . sexual harassment [complaint],” Mayor Walsh said just before Arroyo’s firing was announced. “I don’t think that is the case here." Arroyo did not respond to request for comment, but his spokeswoman said he was “disappointed in this decision.”
“Felix is adamant that these allegations are baseless and retaliatory and will continue to fight to clear his name and is looking forward to fully cooperating with the [Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination].