Assistant Librarian Fired For Reporting Employees Having Sex In Children’s Section

Estancia, NM — An assistant librarian is claiming that she was fired after she reported two town employees having sex in the children’s section.

Jamie Kurz arrived at the Estancia Public Library just before it opened on August 20. She heard noises coming from the children’s section and put down her bags to investigate. She then discovered two employees having sex, according to her attorney, Joseph CampBell.

“Right in the middle of the library, in front of God and everybody,” CampBell said.

According to KOB 4, Jamie Kurz contacted Julie Carter, who was the town clerk at the time, later that day. CampBell said Carter then contacted Mayor Sylvia Chavez.

Campbell said Jamie Kurz wrote a letter to Mayor Chavez in early October to request time off to avoid a “hostile work situation.” Chavez signed the letter, but a few days later, both Kurz and Carter learned that they would lose their jobs. Campbell said the town terminated Julie Carter’s employment two weeks ago.

“They’re two outsiders, non-locals,” he said. “You know, they stumbled upon and kicked up a hornets nest.”

According to The Blaze, the town’s attorney, Catherine Robinson, said the women were not terminated for reporting the intercourse, but she would not comment further since it is a personnel matter. Robinson also said the allegations were addressed and dealt with after they were reported.

In a letter dated October 10, Mayor Sylvia Chavez told Jaime Kurz that she was being terminated for failing to turn over the keys to the library when asked. Kurz also allegedly failed to meet with the mayor to discuss the claims of a hostile work environment.

Both Kurz and Carter were at-will employees, meaning they could be terminated at any time for no reason. Joseph CampBell said both women fall into a protected class under the Whistleblower Protection Act since they reported inappropriate behavior or misconduct.

Campbell said he plans to file a lawsuit against the city on Jamie Kurz’s behalf. Julie Carter’s attorney, Gary Mitchell, said he plans to do the same.

This isn’t the first time an employee has been fired for doing the right thing. Earlier this year, a Florida teacher was fired on a protocol technicality for saving a classroom full of children by putting out a fire.

Michelle Hammack was fired from Little Temples Childcare facility after a fire started in a nearby classroom. Hammack smelled burning chicken nuggets and saw that a fire had started in the oven. Hammack said she opened the oven to put the fire out, and the alarm started going off. She rushed back to her classroom to wake up her napping students. She brought the children outside but forgot to do a headcount before going back inside to make sure there were no other children inside. She put out the fire before fire trucks arrived, but received a pink slip hours later.

“I fired her only because she left her room,” said facility owner Olga Rozhaov. “Even though children are sleeping, the teachers are supposed to be there.”

Rozhaov said she made the right decision, and that she would do it again.

“It’s not acceptable, and if anybody else does the same thing, I will fire again,” she said. “I will fire them. No question.”