Carmel Boy Scouts Program Shuts Down

Sandra Chapman/13 Investigates

Hamilton County – The City of Carmel has shut down a Boy Scouts program at its fire department after troubling allegations.

13 Investigates has learned a high-ranking firefighter is at the center of an investigation that prompted the move. And now members of the city council are burning mad.

Carmel firefighters were at their best battling flames racing through a strip mall last June. But 13 Investigates has learned that at the same time, city officials were putting out a different fire – one involving allegations of inappropriate behavior between a high-ranking staff member and a female student enrolled in the Boy Scouts of America Explorers Program.

“I’m shocked and appalled if these things that you’re mentioning did happen,” said Carmel City Councilman and Mayoral Challenger John Accettura.

Sources tell 13 Investigates, the 17-year-old student would come to the firehouse after school for training – located across the street from the Carmel Clay School superintendent’s office.

No one from the Carmel Fire Department would return our calls.

City spokeswoman Nancy Heck refused to go on camera, but confirms the program was abruptly shut down after sexual accusations surfaced.

According to Heck, the accusations were found to be false.

Sources close to the case tell 13 Investigates the firefighter in question has since been transferred.

“I’m very surprised about the whole thing, and I’ve had an ongoing concern with the Brainard administration in regards to transparency,” said Accettura, who adds that he knew nothing of the allegations or that the city’s Fire Explorer program had been cancelled.

“As a member of the Carmel City Council, you actually have more information than I do, and I’m a member of the legislative body of this city,” he said.

“And is that disturbing?” Eyewitness News asked.

“That is disturbing to me,” he said.

Six of the seven council members 13 Investigates contacted say they were in the dark about the investigation and cancellation of the Fire Explorer program.

Councilman Ron Carter said, “No one needs to know.”

“Obviously the city council would like to know what’s going on,” said a frustrated Accettura.

Nancy Heck says someone alerted them to questionable behavior, but says no official complaint was filed. Nor was Carmel Police asked to investigate.

Officials with the Carmel Clay School corporation say they were not informed because the Explorer program has no school connection.

The Program Director at the Boy Scouts of America wasn’t aware the program was placed on hiatus either. Late Friday, the organization issued this statement:

Statement from Crossroads of America Council, Boy Scouts of America:

Exploring programs are based on five areas of emphasis: career opportunities, life skills, citizenship, character education, and leadership experience. It is a worksite-based program for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years old.

Local community organizations initiate a specific Explorer post by matching their people and program resources to the interests of young people in the community. The result is a program of activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, grow and develop.

We are currently in the process of working with the organizations that sponsor area Explorer posts to determine their interest in renewing the program for another year. It is up to the sponsoring organization to determine if they will continue. We are aware there are questions about the future of this particular post. Recently, the council became aware that the post may not be renewed. Upon inquiring further, it found out there may be some possible issues, but have yet to learn the specifics.

We take any allegations of inappropriate behavior seriously. Protection of our youth is at the very heart of what we do and our most essential goal. The roles of volunteer adult leaders in the Exploring program require that clear boundaries be established between adult leaders and youth members. For this reason, fraternization- the formation of peer-based, social relationships between adult and youth members- is not permitted.