HAMMONTON, N.J. — A volunteer fire department and five of its members filed a lawsuit against town officials claiming their civil rights were violated during harassment allegations.
Press of Atlantic City reported that the lawsuit alleges Independent Volunteer Fire Company Station 2 firefighters were denied due process and that town officials broke the law in suspending them. They are seeking payment of damages as well as reinstatement.
“This action has been initiated for the well-being of the fire company, its dedicated volunteer members and the taxpayers of our community,” fire company Secretary Joseph Lizza said.
The suit argues that the volunteer firefighters are covered by a state law that protects members from suspension or termination without the filing of a complaint and proper notice of the complaint, according to the report.
The five firefighters who sued are Station 2 President Joseph Caruso Jr., former Capt. William Tomasello, Treasurer John H. Warren Jr., firefighting commander John Michael Warren and terminated junior firefighter Joseph Caruso III.
The firefighters were suspended last September after officials investigated allegations of sexual harassment, the sending of threatening text messages and aggressive driving. They also found evident of extreme competitiveness between the town’s town volunteer companies that resulted in behavior that risked public safety, according to the report.
John H. Warren Jr. and John Michael Warren were later cleared of wrongdoing in October. In November, town council officials voted to bring charges against two firefighters but did not name them or provide information on the charges.