A former paramedic with the Platteville-Gilcrest Fire Protection District in Colorado has filed suit alleging sex discrimination, age discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. Jennifer Hogestad claims she was subjected to a hostile work environment after reporting discriminatory comments by a lieutenant and was ultimately terminated after complaining about sexual harassment by the fire chief.

The suit was originally filed in Weld County District Court naming the fire protection district and Fire Chief Daniel Durkee individually as defendants. On November 2, 2026, the defendants removed the case to federal court.

Hogestad was hired by the district in September 2021 as a paramedic and subsequently promoted to Paramedic Field Training Officer (FTO). According to the complaint, she was one of only two female firefighter/paramedics employed by the district and had no formal disciplinary record or documented performance problems prior to the events giving rise to the lawsuit.

Her problems began on December 3, 2024, during a discussion about filling vacant paramedic positions. Hogestad was in the lieutenant’s office at Station 1 with Lieutenant Dante Frascona, Battalion Chief Chad Greene, and another employee. She suggested two potential candidates, including an older woman with a teaching background whom she believed would be an asset to the department. She also mentioned a male candidate whom she believed might be homosexual.

According to the complaint, Lt. Frascona responded that he “could not work with another older female” and that he “would rather have the gay guy.” Hogestad alleges the remarks were made seriously and in the presence of BC Greene, who took no immediate corrective action.

The following day, Hogestad submitted a written discrimination complaint to BC Greene, alleging discrimination based on sex and age. At the time she was over 40 years old. She stated that she did not feel safe working under Lt. Frascona until the matter was addressed.

An investigation concluded that Lt. Frascona’s comments were “inappropriate and worthy of disciplinary action.” He received a two-day unpaid suspension and was ordered to attend mandatory diversity training.

Hogestad claims that following her complaint, she experienced a series of retaliatory actions. In January 2025, Captain Cameron Duran reportedly informed her that Lt. Frascona was telling other employees she was “not qualified or fit to do [her] job.” She reported the comments as retaliation, but alleges Captain Duran took no action.

In April 2025, Hogestad was scheduled to retrain a paramedic assigned to Lt. Frascona’s crew. She claims Lt. Frascona prevented her from conducting the training, even after Ops Chief Daniel Bass directed that she complete it.

On May 13, 2025, Hogestad received a text message that had inadvertently been forwarded to her. The message, sent by district member Jesse Kenney, warned other employees to exercise “caution” around her while she was on duty. Hogestad contends the message was intended to isolate her and encourage coworkers to view her with suspicion.

The following day, Hogestad attended a mediation meeting with Lt. Frascona, Ops. Chief Bass, and BC Greene. She alleges she was berated during the meeting and told she was “a horrible person” for not getting along with Lt. Frascona. After reading aloud her continuing complaints of discrimination and retaliation, she requested permission to leave because she did not feel safe.

Immediately following the meeting, Hogestad was summoned to Chief Durkee’s office. According to the complaint, Chief Durkee told her:

“Jen, I love being around you. I think you are awesome. I think you are super fun. I was saying to someone… Jen is the kind of person I would date if I was younger…“

Hogestad alleges the comments constituted unwelcome sexual harassment by the district’s highest-ranking officer, who had authority over her continued employment.

Several days later, she requested a meeting with Melissa Rossback and Operations Chief Bass to report the incident. The district investigated her complaint, but according to the lawsuit, the investigation accepted Chief Durkee’s explanation that his comments were merely a reference to his wife. Hogestad alleges the investigation was inadequate and that Chief Durkee received no discipline.

On May 21, 2025, approximately one week after the incident involving Chief Durkee, Hogestad was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct against her. She claims the allegations arose from anonymous accusations obtained during the investigation she had initiated against Chief Durkee.

According to the complaint, the district refused to identify her accusers, provide the dates of the alleged misconduct, or specify the statements she supposedly made. Hogestad contends that the investigation and disciplinary process differed substantially from those used to investigate Lieutenant Frascona and Chief Durkee.

On June 19, 2025, Board President Homyak notified Hogestad that her employment was being terminated, effective June 23, 2025. The district cited what the complaint characterizes as legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for the termination. Hogestad maintains those reasons were pretextual and that she was actually terminated because of her sex, age, and repeated complaints of discrimination and harassment.

Hogestad filed a discrimination charge with the Colorado Civil Rights Division and the EEOC in September 2025.

Her lawsuit asserts seven claims under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and Colorado common law. The claims include sex and age discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation, and wrongful termination in violation of public policy.

Hogestad seeks damages exceeding $100,000, including lost wages, benefits, emotional distress damages, and attorney’s fees. She also seeks punitive damages against Chief Durkee individually and an order expunging references to the alleged discriminatory and retaliatory actions from her personnel records.