Duo Pleads Not Guilty to Coercing Islip Town Fire Marshal Applicants to Decline Job: DA

The former Town of Islip commissioner of public safety and an assistant chief fire marshal pleaded not guilty on Tuesday on charges related to allegedly attempting to coerce four fire marshal applicants to decline the position, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney.

West Islip resident John Carney, 54, who served as commissioner of public safety, and Holbrook resident Michael Allen, 41, who served as assistant chief fire marshal, are accused of bribe receiving, official misconduct and coercion, according to the DA.

In March, the two conducted job interviews for the position of fire marshal and they had to chose from a civil service list of candidates established by the Suffolk County Department of Civil Service, the DA said.

While conducting interviews for the job opening, four applicants were allegedly coerced by Carney and Allen into declining the position and signing declination letters in order to try to get their preferred candidates who finished lower on the civil service list after an exam, the DA said.

Before State Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho, the duo pleaded not guilty to four counts of third degree bribe receiving, four counts of official misconduct and eight counts of second degree coercion.

Published reports last week said that Carney retired from the town last week for health reasons.

Photo: Suffolk County DA

Pictured (From L to R): Carney and Allen