HAMMONTON, N.J. — A town council voted Monday night to bring charges against two of its four remaining suspended volunteer firefighters.
Press of Atlantic City reported that the unspecified charges will be handled by a hearing officer, who will decide the firefighters’ fate with the Hammonton Independent (N.J.) Volunteer Fire Company Station 2.
In September, six firefighters from the department were suspended at a council meeting. The firefighters were accused of sexual harassment, sending threatening text messages and one firefighter allegedly drove another off the road on purpose.
“It’s important to note there are volunteers that are going to be brought up on charges possibly and there are volunteers being treated inappropriately. There are volunteers on both sides of the equation,” said Mayor Steve DiDonato.
Mayor DiDonato said the two fire departments in town will undergo training to help change the culture to eliminate harassment.
Deputy Mayor Tom Gribbin stressed the council did not go looking for the allegations.
“Volunteers are the backbone of Hammonton,” he said. “It’s not something we asked for, but it was brought to council and we had to take action.”
The investigation into the department found a competitive relationship between the two fire companies in town. Town solicitor Brian Howell said he found jealousy, personal animosity and extreme competitiveness, according to the report.
“It’s time for the leadership internally to step up,” Howell said.
The council cleared two of the six volunteer firefighters of wrongdoing and overturned their suspensions in October. Allegations are still pending against four other firefighters.