On December 23, 2009, a Superior Court Judge in New Jersey, dismissed internal administrative charges against three Atlantic City firefighters who were suspended in the aftermath of a sensationalized case, the likes of which brought in such headliners as Reverend Al Sharpton.
The case arose in September, 2009 when four teenage black girls alleged that a white firefighter lured them into a fire station and committed lewd acts in May of 2009. The girls filed a lawsuit against the firefighter and the Atlantic City Fire Department prompting a public outcry for justice. In a rush to respond to the public uproar, the Mayor of Atlantic City, Lorenzo Langford, promised that “heads will roll”.
Meanwhile, the firefighter at the center of the controversy vehemently denies the accusations and claims he was not even on duty the day the girls allege the incident occurred. Nevertheless, Firefighter Richard Williams, along with two captains and a firefighter were suspended after the story broke on September 16, 2009.
