NJFFSA16
05-15-2002, 05:28 AM
WOODBRIDGE, N.J. (AP) - A local fire chief and two junior
officers have been suspended while officials investigate claims
about a wild party at their firehouse involving a California rock
band.
The suspensions came after the Board of Commissioners for Iselin
Fire District 11 held an emergency meeting Monday night to discuss
the May 3 party. Officials learned about the event after pictures
and narratives about it were posted on the band Lit's Web site.
According to the site, the four-man band met several
firefighters by chance at a local restaurant and later went with
them to the firehouse. While there, the firefighters allegedly let
band members put on gear, squirt fire extinguishers, and ride
around town in fire vehicles with lights blazing and sirens wailing
at 2 a.m.
The site also stated that the band performed an all-request show
for the firefighters that night and put them on their guest list
for their concert. The pictures and narratives were temporarily
removed from the site this week at the firefighters request, a band
spokesman said Tuesday.
Chief Steven Mellett, his brother, David, and Kenneth Hilarczyk
were all suspended indefinitely while the investigation continues,
board attorney Joseph Greco said in a prepared statement issued
Tuesday.
Lit's publicist, Ken Phillips, said the band had no official
comment on the matter, but Steven Mellet said the event was being
blown out of proportion.
"There wasn't anything done at the fire department that was
illegal," Mellet said. "There wasn't anything done that there
should be any major ramifications about."
No fire department property was damaged during the party, and
Greco said no other firefighters were expected to face charges in
connection with the event.
Township officials would not comment on the matter, saying they
had not seen copies of the board's report.
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press
I will wait for further details before posting comments. I just want to believe that this couldn't possibly be all true.
officers have been suspended while officials investigate claims
about a wild party at their firehouse involving a California rock
band.
The suspensions came after the Board of Commissioners for Iselin
Fire District 11 held an emergency meeting Monday night to discuss
the May 3 party. Officials learned about the event after pictures
and narratives about it were posted on the band Lit's Web site.
According to the site, the four-man band met several
firefighters by chance at a local restaurant and later went with
them to the firehouse. While there, the firefighters allegedly let
band members put on gear, squirt fire extinguishers, and ride
around town in fire vehicles with lights blazing and sirens wailing
at 2 a.m.
The site also stated that the band performed an all-request show
for the firefighters that night and put them on their guest list
for their concert. The pictures and narratives were temporarily
removed from the site this week at the firefighters request, a band
spokesman said Tuesday.
Chief Steven Mellett, his brother, David, and Kenneth Hilarczyk
were all suspended indefinitely while the investigation continues,
board attorney Joseph Greco said in a prepared statement issued
Tuesday.
Lit's publicist, Ken Phillips, said the band had no official
comment on the matter, but Steven Mellet said the event was being
blown out of proportion.
"There wasn't anything done at the fire department that was
illegal," Mellet said. "There wasn't anything done that there
should be any major ramifications about."
No fire department property was damaged during the party, and
Greco said no other firefighters were expected to face charges in
connection with the event.
Township officials would not comment on the matter, saying they
had not seen copies of the board's report.
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press
I will wait for further details before posting comments. I just want to believe that this couldn't possibly be all true.