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City investigating report that one FF slashed another with box cutter outside firehouse

A Trenton councilman said the reported attack was brought to light in a letter and hadn’t been reported to fire department officials

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The city of Trenton is investigating a report that an off-duty firefighter confronted a firefighter who was leaving work and slashed them with a box cutter. The reported incident was brought to light in a letter to city officials.

Photo/Trenton Fire Department Facebook

Kevin Shea
NJ Advance Media Group, Edison, N.J.

TRENTON, N.J. — The city of Trenton is investigating the reported slashing of a city firefighter by another member of the department last month, officials said Thursday.

“We are conducting an inquiry into the assertions. Trenton Fire Department has yet to receive any formal complaints regarding the matter,” Trenton spokesman Connor Ilchert said. “TFD is always committed to the health, safety, and well-being of its members. We will make more information available as we look into the issue.”

Ilchert offered no other details on the allegations.

Councilman George Muschal said he received a letter recently that appears to be from a city firefighter, or firefighters, that describes the incident in detail, and saying on-duty fire officials did not report it to supervisors.

“Nothing was done,” Muschal said. He said he reported it to Mayor Reed Gusciora’s office and the police department.

“I’ve gone through the channels, and I’m doing it right,” Muschal said.

Muschal said the letter indicated an off-duty firefighter pulled up to the Calhoun Street firehouse and confronted a firefighter who was getting off duty. The off-duty firefighter had a box cutter and appeared intoxicated, according to the letter.

During a struggle, the firefighter who was confronted suffered a slash wound, Muschal said. The incident was recorded by a security camera, he said, referring to the letter.

The incident occurred Feb. 8, and the letter was dated Feb. 17 and originally sent to Gusciora. Muschal received it Tuesday evening when he was opening his mail ahead of a council meeting. He does not believe the mayor has seen the letter, but he’s now aware of the allegation.

Muschal is at a loss to explain why no on-duty firefighters dealt with the situation by reporting it. “But they came to me, and I’ll get it done.”

“That’s not a simple assault, that’s an aggravated assault,” said Muschal, a retired city police officer. “This has to be addressed by the police department. Let them investigate it.”

A city police spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment. Neither did the president of the city firefighters’ union.

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