Toledo Fire Deputy Chief on Paid Leave After Two Harassment Investigations Were Substantiated
TOLEDO — Toledo Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Danny Brown-Martinez is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation, the department confirmed.
The 13abc I-TEAM, reporting by Shaun Hegarty on Nov. 4, 2026, obtained two City of Toledo Human Resources investigations into Brown-Martinez. Both were substantiated, according to 13abc.
A September investigation found sufficient evidence that Brown-Martinez made repeated sexual comments and jokes in the workplace, including comments about women’s breasts, placed his hand on a leg during an Oct. 3, 2025 meeting in his office, and directed someone to work from his residence on more than one undated occasion with his minor child present, the investigation found. It recommended disciplinary action and evaluation for potential violations of department and city policies connected with the collective bargaining agreement.
A second investigation examined a June incident at Toledo Fire & Rescue headquarters. It found he made sexually explicit comments, including disclosing personal sexual encounters and commenting on the breast size of a firefighter in the presence of several co-workers, according to the investigation. It recommended disciplinary action and consideration of permanent position reassignment.
A disciplinary hearing took place Wednesday and will continue next week as city leaders decide what comes next, according to a source cited by the I-TEAM. The complainants were not named in the report.
Toledo Fire & Rescue released this statement Wednesday: “There is currently an internal investigation involving Deputy Chief Brown-Martinez that remains open and ongoing. He is presently on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of that process. Consistent with departmental policy and the collective bargaining agreement, the department will not comment on the specific allegations, circumstances, or details of an ongoing internal investigation.”
The I-TEAM said it tried to reach Brown-Martinez’s union and had not yet heard back.
Source: 13abc I-TEAM
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
