LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — An internal investigation at Fern Creek Fire and EMS found two senior leaders were involved in an undisclosed workplace relationship.
The relationship was between HR Director Jennifer Crawford and Maj. Eric Brown.
Fern Creek Fire and EMS Board of Trustees Chairman Henry Ott said both are high-ranking supervisors.
Documents show Brown's wife alerted staff.
"I just discovered this morning that my husband and your HR Director Jennifer Crawford have been having an affair for months," she said in the documents. "I am devastated and humiliated that this has been going on while he is at work."
"Two individuals made a mistake," Ott said. "They interpreted something wrong. We've dealt with it."
According to the file, the wife sent 20 screenshots of text messages that appear to be conversations between Crawford and Brown from May 18 to 22, 2026, while at least one of them was on duty.
"We instituted an investigation," Ott said. "It was given to that section since it mostly involved the fire side of this."
Brown was also a member of the Board of Trustees.
The Fire Protection District said Crawford and Brown admitted to having conversations about being in a relationship.
According to the file, they denied any form of an intimate or sexual relationship within or outside of work hours and did not report the relationship, which is a policy violation.
"Based on their written responses and the interviews, we began the formation of administrative charges," Ott said.
The file states Brown said the two had only hugged at work.
Crawford told investigators that they began communicating and getting to know each other in April 2026.
"Throughout that time, I was under the impression that Major Brown and (Mrs.) Brown were separated and in the process of obtaining a divorce," Crawford told investigators.
Crawford told investigators that Brown's wife messaged her three times and said she and her husband were not getting divorced.
"It always creates a problem and there's always rumors and we are a very professional organization," Ott said. "We dealt with it. Those people were punished. They immediately served their punishment."
The investigation found Crawford and Brown were involved in a relationship that could involve conflicts of interest, perceptions of favoritism and damage to organizational trust and credibility.
The district said both violated employee policies. Both received a letter of reprimand and a performance expectation plan.
Brown also received a 48-hour unpaid suspension, and Crawford received a 24-hour unpaid suspension.
"That's what a performance plan is where we established they know what we expect clearly," Ott said. "They know what the terms are and that's what we're doing. I'll just be real honest about it. I'm not a big second, third and fourth chance person."
Brown has since resigned from the board.
"You control a lot in this fire district as a board member," Ott said. "As an individual board member, he votes on everything. I personally wasn't happy and some of the board members weren't happy he's in this position but he's making this stupid mistake."
Captain TJ Sauer won an election to take Brown's place.
"We got a great guy coming in and I look forward to kind of a new breath and younger person giving us new information," Ott said.
Mayor Craig Greenberg would still need to approve the appointment and Metro Council would have the final say.
Crawford declined to comment on the incident.
"I believe the records speak for themselves, at this time I respectfully decline any comment or interview," Brown told WDRB in an email.
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