Massachusetts firefighter and former chief held without bail after alleged sex tape without consent

Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois announced that on Saturday, 53-year-old John Rose of Martha’s Vineyard, had been placed under arrest on the charges of, Photographing, Videotaping, or Electronically Surveilling Partially Nude or Nude Persons.

On December 14, 2023, it was reported to MA State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office that John Rose has a video recording of an individual performing sexual acts on him, and that this was done without this individual’s consent.

John Rose is currently being held without bail and will be arraigned in the Edgartown District Court on Monday.

The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the MA State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office.

According to the Vineyard Gazette, Rose resigned as chief in April of 2020 amid an FBI inquiry into ambulance finances and sexual harassment allegations.

The Vineyard Gazette also stated that Rose was suspended this month from his new job as a firefighter in West Tisbury after a man sought a harassment prevention order against him on December 4th.