HARRISON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — County commissioners have found that a township fire commissioner violated harassment policies by awarding a gag trophy that looks like male genitals, called the “brass balls.”
Harrison Township Fire Commissioner Mike Koestler awarded the trophy, made up of “truck nuts,” a plastic accessory that typically hangs from the tow hitch of a truck hanging in a wooden frame, to Firefighter Brent Fox for “actively campaigning against someone that could be his boss,” according to NJ.com.
In February, Commissioner Koestler was running along with Firefighter Fox’s father-in-law for two empty seats on the Board of Commissioners. Firefighter Fox campaigned for his father-in-law against Commissioner Koetsler. “As an employee of the district, I take offense,” Firefighter Fox said at a hearing. “It’s my right as a resident and a citizen to campaign for whoever I choose.”
Although he did not attend the award dinner where he was supposed to receive the “brass balls,” Firefighter Fox still filed a workplace harassment complaint against Koestler, who has said that the award was a comedic gag prize. NJ.com reports that according to several other firefighters, this is the first time someone has taken offense to the trophy despite it being given out on many previous occasions.
The complaint polarized many, as some said the gift crossed a line, while others saw it purely as a joke.
The commissioners agreed that although the trophy may have been awarded out of jest, it still broke policy. The “brass balls” were destroyed and Koestler has received a letter of reprimand and must enroll in a workplace harassment course.