Firefighter dismissed over harassment charges

The Lawrence Merit Board has voted to relieve veteran firefighter Michael Rude of his job following accusations he sexually harassed several women in the department. In a meeting that lasted until 1 a.m. Wednesday, the board heard testimony from several women and men. The witnesses described incidents of Rude’s walking into the women-only dorm of the fire station, making sexual comments toward female emergency medical technicians, and groping the wife of a captain at a holiday party.