LEONIA, N.J. — Another firefighter has been suspended under a new criminal background check requirement after a child was allegedly molested at a firehouse last year.
NJ.com reported that the city council already deemed former Fire Chief David Bohnert and Lt. Arnold Davenport ineligible to serve after background checks turned up convictions from the 1990s. The city council made firefighter Charles Pipitone the third member to be suspended due to the new requirement.
Firefighter Pipitone’s suspension stems from a physical altercation he had with a police officer called to his home more than 10 years ago, according to the report. Pipitone has been a firefighter in Leonia for almost 20 years.
An incident in which a 3-year-old was allegedly molested by a visitor at the fire station prompted the council to create the policy.
Members of the fire department have criticized the removals, saying the background checks go back too far, according to the report.