Officials announced on Friday that six additional employees, including the leadership that was on duty at the time, have been released from Marion County Fire Rescue following an internal review of a violent hazing incident that occurred last month.
In a video update released to the public, Marion County Fire Rescue Chief James Banta and Marion County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Carl Zalak III addressed the findings of the department’s administrative investigation.
“Based on the findings of that review, the county has taken administrative action, resulting in the separation of employment of six additional individuals, including all leadership personnel on shift the day of the incident at Station 21,” Banta stated in the video.
The chief also noted that two other individuals investigated as part of the review have been cleared to return to work. Banta emphasized that the investigation indicated the actions were isolated to “one particular shift at that fire station.”
The review was launched in late November alongside a criminal investigation by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, following the arrests of four MCFR employees (Kaylee Bradley, Seth Day, Edward Kenny III, and Tate Trauthwein).
The individuals were charged in connection with the hazing of a male colleague on Sunday, November 16. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the victim was working at Friendship Station 21 when co-workers allegedly began harassing him. The situation escalated when Trauthwein reportedly threw the victim’s boots into the woods.
When the victim tried to retrieve them, he was allegedly tackled and held down by Kenny and Day. Investigators say Trauthwein then removed the victim’s belt, pulled down his pants and underwear, and struck him with the belt.
The affidavit further alleges that the group later dragged the victim to another location, where he was held down while Trauthwein covered his face with a towel and poured water over it in an act described as “waterboarding.”
Bradley was also charged for her alleged role in taking the victim’s phone and demanding its passcode during the altercation.
None of the mugshots for the four individuals arrested are publicly available through Marion County Jail records. The additional six individuals who have been terminated have not been identified by the county.
“Let me be very clear, the actions alleged in this case are unacceptable,” Banta said in the update. “They are not reflective of who we are, and they are not aligned with our core values, our mission, or our commitment to this community.”
Trauthwein, Kenny, and Day face charges of kidnapping, robbery, and battery. Bradley faces charges of robbery and principal/accessory to robbery.
The Professional Firefighters of Marion County previously issued a statement condemning the alleged behavior, stating it does not reflect the professionalism of their nearly 600 members.
Chairman Zalak thanked the community for their patience and support during the investigation. “We are thankful for our community, for the outreach that you’ve given, and the support as we continue to move forward,” Zalak said.
Chief Banta reiterated the department’s “zero tolerance” policy for such conduct and committed to strengthening safeguards to prevent future incidents.
Friendship Station #21 is located at 7884 SW 90th Street in Ocala. The station serves On Top of the World and the city’s southwest corridor on State Road 200. In 2024, the facility fielded 14,766 calls, according to statistics provided by MCFR earlier this year. The station is equipped with one tower unit, one engine unit, three rescue units, one grass unit, and one tanker unit.