Pubdate: Sat, 22 Mar 2014
Source: Record, The (Hackensack, NJ)
Copyright: 2014 North Jersey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.northjersey.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/44
Author: Kim Lueddeke

LEONIA FIREFIGHTER FORCED TO TURN IN GEAR FOR NEARLY 2 DECADE OLD 
DRUG CONVICTION

LEONIA - A long-serving fire lieutenant has been told to turn in his 
gear after being deemed ineligible to serve because of a nearly two 
decade old marijuana conviction.

"I'm not feeling very happy," said Lt. Arnold Davenport, who, after 
three decades as a volunteer firefighter, was informed this week that 
he could no longer be a member of the department because of his 
criminal history.

Davenport is the first Leonia firefighter to be ousted from the 
department as a result of new regulations adopted by the Borough 
Council last fall, following the alleged molestation of a 3-year-old 
boy at the borough firehouse by a developmentally disabled teen who 
had hoped to join the department. Those rules - which gave the 
council more oversight over the department - require firefighters to 
undergo physicals and criminal background checks every two years in 
order to remain eligible to serve.

"We thought it was something important to put in," Councilman Greg 
Makroulakis said of the background check requirement. "It's becoming 
more of a standard practice today in society that background checks 
are done for all volunteers."

Davenport, 48, has been a firefighter in Leonia off and on since high 
school. In 1997, he pleaded no contest to possessing marijuana with 
the intent to distribute in Rhode Island. He was given a suspended 
three-year sentence and ordered to serve four years' probation, 
according to court records.

His criminal history was known to fire officials, but it was not an 
issue until it came up in the council-mandated background check.

Firefighters with criminal convictions have been given the chance to 
make their case to the council's fire committee, said Makroulakis. If 
they disagree with the committee's decision, they can request a 
hearing before the full council, he said.

After the committee determined Davenport was ineligible to serve, he 
chose not to appeal to the council, said Makroulakis.

A second firefighter also met with the committee, and has chosen to 
have a hearing before the council, said Makroulakis. He declined to 
name the firefighter, but Chief David Bohnert has said that he also 
has a criminal conviction that would make him ineligible to serve.

Bohnert was convicted in 1998 of lewdness. He was fined $250 and 
sentenced to two years' probation, according to court records. He 
could not be reached for comment Friday.

Firefighters have also faced termination over failure to submit 
paperwork proving they had undergone physicals. Three weeks ago, 24 
firefighters - nearly half the department  received notices informing 
them that they had to turn in all borough fire equipment and that 
their access keys would be deactivated because they had not handed in 
their medical documentation.

After meeting with some of the firefighters, the council extended the 
deadline to hand in paperwork to March 10. Makroulakis said six 
firefighters failed to meet the new deadline and were suspended for 
two weeks, during which time they must hand in their paperwork or be 
deemed ineligible to serve.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom