Secaucus New Jersey Council Decides Three Firefighters Who Allegedly Harassed Gay Couple And Resigned Rather Than Face Discipline Cannot Rejoin Department

Tuesday, the Secaucus, New Jersey Town Council announced that the three volunteer firefighters who resigned in 2008 rather than face discipline for their alleged harassment of a gay couple cannot rejoin the department, reports North Jersey.com. The council’s decision to uphold the ban of the firefighters followed the recommendation of an outside attorney, Edward DePascale, hired last May to report on the implications of the firefighter’s return. Acting on the advice of Town Attorney, Anthony V. D’Elia, the council did not offer their reasons for the continuation of the ban, and did not disclose the contents of DePascale’s report, D’Elia, reading from a prepared statement Tuesday night, said that members could disclose the deliberations on the report and the document itself only with the consent of the three firefighters, Charles Snyder Sr., Charles Snyder Jr., and Charles Mutschler. Neil Mullin, the attorney for the couple in question, Timothy Carter and Peter de Vries, commended the council’s decision, but condemned them putting his already traumatized clients “through hell,” adding “I think they (council) just really embarrassed the town of Secaucus by even considering this.” The three firefighters signed an agreement with the town to resign from the department in 2008 rather than face administrative charges for their alleged role in the harassment of a couple who lived beside Engine Co. 3. That year, the couple won a $2.8 million civil court verdict, plus $2 million in legal fees, against the town in state Superior Court. The firefighters were never charged with a crime in the matter, and the civil verdict was based on the failure of town officials to properly respond to the harassment complaints.