Banner Displayed at N.J. Conventon Causes Stir

Sept. 17, 2014
Williamstown, N.J. firefighters are facing discipline.

A New Jersey fire department is currently in the midst of a public relations nightmare thanks to members who displayed a banner during a recent firefighters convention.

The sign, which read "Show us your t---," flew directly under the Williamstown Fire Company's banner graced a balcony, The South Jersey Times reported.

Mayor Michael Gabbianelli told reporters he met with fire officials Tuesday to discuss discipline for the volunteers responsible.

A college professor and former EMT who lives in Williamstown wasn't amused, and sent the photo to a local newspaper. Shawn Rutter said it was "sexist and set a bad example for children."

"I think it's demoralizing to women. I think it's insulting. A lot of young kids idolize that type of work. Every little kid wants to be a firefighter. A lot of parents drive their kids to that parade. That's not a conducive learning environment," he told a reporter. 

Rutter emphasized that as a former EMT, he had nothing against the fire company but was concerned about how the township was represented in Wildwood. Fire departments from all over the state, and even some from Pennsylvania, attend the convention each year, the paper reported.

Fire officials now find themselves in damage control. Here's the statement on the department's website:

"As President and Fire Chief of the Williamstown Fire Company #1, we would like to offer the fire company’s sincere apologies to those who were offended by the inappropriate banner posted during the NJ State Firemen’s Convention this past weekend in Wildwood. While attendance at the annual convention has always been a festive occasion for our volunteers, unfortunately a few individuals of our organization exercised poor judgment posting an inappropriate banner. The Williamstown Fire Company has a long standing tradition of honorable service and commitment to the township. Our volunteers are dedicated to the safety and security of our residents. We ask the general public to not assess our organization through a single display of poor judgment but by the dedicated commitment of all the volunteers who proudly and unselfishly serve our community. The Williamstown Fire Company assures our residents that action will be taken to insure that an incident like this will never happen again. Once again, on behalf of our organization, our volunteer members, we sincerely apologize.

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