Forestry official faces harassment charge

Wednesday, Feb. 12, 1997 | 4:23 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state attorney general's office is investigating an allegation of sexual harassment against the No. 2 man at the state Division of Forestry, who was once fired as chief of the Reno Fire Department, also for sexual harassment.

Otis Turner, assistant state forester in charge of fire management, has been placed on administrative leave until the attorney general's office completes its investigation.

Peter Morros, director of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said Tuesday that while on leave, Turner will be using compensation time he accumulated while working extra hours on fires and flooding.

Turner worked 17 years for the Reno Fire Department and the last two as chief. He was fired in June 1989 on charges of sexual harassment. A month later, he was hired by the state.

The issue arose last Friday while Morros was talking with a male employee in the office and the sexual harassment allegation "slipped out." Morros said he talked with the female employee and on Monday put Turner on administrative leave.

Turner did not return telephone calls. When he was fired from the Reno department, he filed and lost a federal suit to get his job back.