Delco Fire Co Suspended After Members Heard Using Racial Slurs

GLENOLDEN, PA — A Delaware County fire company has been shut down after members were allegedly overheard on a virtual meeting using racist language and making threats to other firefighters.

In a letter to Darby Township Commissioners, the Goodwill Fire Company described insults overheard by members of Glenolden's Briarcliff Fire Company during a virtual meeting in January.

The letter names six members of the fire company who were involved in the conversations.

During the conversations, these members were heard using racial slurs about members of the Darby Fire Township No. 4 Fire Company, assaulting members of the Goodwill Fire Company, arson, and mocking the name of 8-year-old Fanta Bility who was shot and killed in Sharon Hill in August 2021, the letter states.

These members — who are named in the letter — are alleged to have thought the virtual meeting was over, however they were still being recorded.

"We have great concerns of this as fire companies, and the safety of the community," the letter reads. "This is not appropriate and does not belong in the township."

Glendolen, Briarcliff, and Darby No. 4 are all fire companies within Darby Township.

Darby Township decided to suspend the fire company after Delco Resists co-founder Ashley Dolceamore read the letter aloud at a Darby Township Commissioners meeting Wednesday and after the commissioners listened to the audio in an executive session.

"It goes without saying that this behavior is completely despicable," said in an email. "These comments were made by public servants whose main priority should be the safety of their community, no matter the color of a resident’s skin."

The suspension will last 30 days while authorities investigate the incident, but could be extended.

The Delaware County District Attorney's Office is investigating the incident.