Accuser: Frederick was 'monster with a badge'

Kellie Dodds, a wife and mother of two, said William J. Frederick attacked her in the rescue squad's former offices on Seventh Avenue in Garner in September.

Dodds told WRAL News on Thursday that she initially thought Frederick was her friend but soon found out that he was “a monster with a badge.”

“We were both on duty and he asked me to help him with something in the building. I guess, I got stumped into going over there,” Dodds said. “If I would have known what type of person he was before that day, I would have never trusted him enough in the slightest bit.”

Dodds said two days after the attack she filed a complaint against Frederick.

“I was scared,” she said.

Less than a week later, Frederick resigned from his job citing personal reasons.

Frederick was charged with sexual battery in October. After a police investigation, he was convicted of assault on a female on Dec. 21 and given a 60-day suspended sentence, three years of supervised probation and 30 hours of community service, police said.

Frederick did not return calls for comment on Thursday. 

In 1996, Frederick resigned from the Sanford Police Department amid allegations that he traded leniency on criminal charges for sexual favors. He was later convicted of attempted obstruction of justice and was placed on probation.

“It just seems like men like that they prey on women who they think are weak and won’t say anything and won’t come forward,” Dodds said.

Dodds said she came forward because she doesn’t want other women to remain silent.

“I knew it was the right thing to do,” she said. “I knew it was going to be a long fight but it was going to be worth it in the end.”

Dodds said her family, faith and friends are helping her through this difficult time.

"I just want to make that known that he will never do this to another woman again,” Dodds said. 

The sex assault probe prompted by Dodds' accusations led Garner officials to prematurely end the town's contract with the squad for search and rescue services.

The Garner Volunteer Fire Department took over those services in October.

Dodds is on extended leave from Garner EMS. She said she still thinks highly of the organization.