Rochester Fire Captain Charged with Inappropriately Touching Female Firefighter

Police arrested recently retired fire Captain Joseph Burns on Friday on a charge alleging he slapped a female firefighter colleague in the buttocks area after she changed into yoga pants.

Burns, 58, a 35-year veteran of the Rochester Fire Department, became a captain in 2007. He is a resident of South Berwick, Maine.

Rochester issued a press release stating Burns is charged with simple assault, a Class B misdemeanor.

Rochester police began investigating the alleged June 30 incident in July after it was reported by the woman who was allegedly slapped by Burns, according to an arrest warrant.