ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — A fire chief under investigation for dropping his pants at a metal detector inside a public safety building is resigning.
Press of Atlantic City reported that Fire Chief Dennis Brooks, who joined the Atlantic City Fire Department in 1979, was put on administrative leave in March after a woman claimed he dropped his pants when she asking him to put anything metal on the table.
Chief Brooks submitted his resignation Friday. It takes effect Wednesday.
Video surveillance released March 17 showed Brooks appearing to pull his pants down to about mid-leg, and then pull them back up. He then is seen putting both hands up and shrugging.
According to the unnamed employee, he said, “I am having a bad day.”
The incident happened a day after a city council meeting, during which members of the Beach Patrol union alleged that Chief Brooks tried to retaliate against members after his daughter did not get a job as a lifeguard. The union was trying to fight a move to put the Beach Patrol under fire department control.
Deputy Chief Vincent Granese has been acting chief since Brook was put on leave.
The investigation is ongoing.