Ohio Firefighter Awarded $1.7 Million in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Boss
A female firefighter and EMT received a life-changing settlement after suing her former fire chief for sexual assault, harassment, and retaliation.
A 35-year-old female firefighter and EMT from Ohio has been awarded $1.7 million in a settlement following a lawsuit against her former fire chief. Rebekah Huskey-Archacki sued Chief Kent Johnson, 68, alleging sexual harassment, assault, and retaliation after years of abuse that turned her "dream job" into a "nightmare."
Johnson was sentenced to six months in jail for his role in the harassment. The settlement was reached at the Henry County Courthouse in Napoleon, Ohio. Huskey-Archacki's attorney stated that she faced "broader retaliation and efforts to undermine the investigation" which ultimately led her to resign from the Port Clinton fire department in May 2024.
Huskey-Archacki had known Johnson since she was seven years old, viewing him as a father figure. The complaint detailed how Johnson referred to her as his "sweet, beautiful, special Emma," akin to his own granddaughter, while she called him "dad." Despite this personal connection, Johnson reassigned Huskey-Archacki from her firefighting and EMT duties to serve as his personal secretary against her wishes.
The harassment escalated after Huskey-Archacki gave birth in 2021. Court filings reveal Johnson made inappropriate advances, including asking to watch her pump breast milk, rubbing her back and shoulders, and commenting on her breasts.
Johnson also repeatedly requested lewd photos from Huskey-Archacki, inquired about her clothing, and made sexually charged remarks about her feet when she wore open-toed shoes. In one instance, Johnson took her phone without permission and saved private images of her without her authorization. These images were later recovered by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) during their investigation.
BCI's investigation also uncovered photos of breastfeeding women in Johnson's Google Drive, corroborating Huskey-Archacki's allegations that his comments about her breastfeeding were sexual in nature. Video footage showed Johnson making multiple false statements about how he obtained the photos.
Huskey-Archacki consistently informed Johnson of her lack of romantic or sexual interest and attempted to avoid angering him to protect her job. She resigned on May 27, 2024.
In April 2025, Johnson pleaded no contest to five misdemeanors and one felony related to the sexual harassment. He is required to pay the city $4,000 in restitution over four installments. The settlement brings a conclusion to three years of litigation for Huskey-Archacki.
