GARFILED CITY, N.J. — The city council adopted an ordinance in the aftermath of a firefighter being injured by a juvenile throwing a bottle at a fire truck.
NJ.com reported that the new city code states that a person is guilty of a disorderly person’s offense if they cause public inconvenience, annoyance, alarm or recklessly create a risk by engaging in fighting or threatening, violent or tumultuous behavior.
A disorderly person is also considered if the person creates a hazardous or physically dangerous condition by any act that serves no legitimate purpose to the actor, according to the report. If a person is found guilty the penalty is up to a $2,000 fine, jail time or community service.
The event that sparked the new city code occurred in March when a 16-year-old male was arrested for throwing a bottle at a fire truck responding to a call that injured volunteer firefighter Victoria Kovacs. Firefighter Kovacs suffered corneal abrasions when the thrown bottle shattered the rear window of the fire truck, which propelled pieces of glass into both of her eyes, according to the report.
Under the new ordinance, damaging property is prohibited and a section is dedicated for the fire and police department. The ordinance says that any person who maliciously breaks or injures any fire department property is considered a disorderly person, according to the report.
“I don’t want the court system to not realize the magnitude of this,” Councilman Louis Aloia said. “You’re dealing with a volunteer group that is serving the whole community. When a citizen throws a bottle at EMS, police or a firefighter they’re really throwing it at the whole city.”
Mayor Joseph Delaney said the ordinance is also to send a message of how upset the council is over the incident with the firefighter.
“The city recognizes the service of the city’s firefighters and seeks to protect its volunteers in all events,” the city council said. “The mayor and council hereby condemn the recent actions of the person who threw the bottle that injured Kovacs and the mayor and council pledges full support to the volunteer firefighters of the city and commends them for their bravery and service to the city.”