Atlantic City’s fire chief is on paid administrative leave after he allegedly pulled down his pants in front of a female security guard. The incident was caught on video.
According to the television station, WPVI, Chief Dennis Brooks was entering the public safety building and was asked to remove all metal from his person before going through the metal detectors.
The chief then allegedly stepped back, and pulled his pants down in front of the guard, according to the television station. He then quickly pulled them back up and said he was “having a bad day.”
The newspaper, Press of Atlantic City, said the whole incident took only about a second but was witnessed by several people in the area.
Mayor Don Guardian told the paper he felt there was sufficient information to place the chief on suspended paid leave while the incident was investigated. Outside counsel was hired to investigate, the mayor said.
The newspaper said the female guard has hired a lawyer but has not filed a lawsuit.
Brooks has not commented on the incident, but when told by the media the video of the alleged incident had been released, he said “it doesn’t show anything.”
The newspaper reported the alleged incident occurred on March 5, the day after lifeguards rallied against a plan to place them under control of the fire department. The lifeguards said they fear retribution from Brooks because his daughter didn’t make the Beach Patrol, the paper reported.
Mayor Guardian said he has seen the video but has declined to comment on it. He said he hopes to have the matter wrapped up in a matter of days, but declined to speculate on what disciplinary action may leveled against Brooks.
