Revoke Fire Company's Certification After Slurs: Delco Residents

DARBY, PA — Residents of Darby Borough called for commissioners to revoke the Briarcliff Fire Company's certification during a special meeting Wednesday after the fire company was suspended when members were allegedly heard using racial slurs.

The fire company was initially suspended for 30 days while an investigation by the District Attorney's Office into the comments made by members on a virtual meeting takes place. However, that suspension was extended for two more months.

According to Fox 29, community members Wednesday night said the fire company's certification should be revoked, effectively closing it for good.

Residents said they no longer trust the fire company.

However, the Board of Commissioners declined to take any further action as the investigation is still underway.

The family of 8-year-old Fanta Bility, who was shot and killed in August 2021 and was allegedly mocked by members of the Briacliff Fire Company, had their attorney Bruce Castor read a statement at Wednesday's meeting.

"The public servants tasked with protecting this community and making amends for its mistakes have failed little Fanta, failed her family of patriotic, formerly enthusiastic first generation Americans from West Africa," the statement read in part. "It’s sad, disappointing, and disgusting. No, Fanta Bility’s family is not here tonight to accept an apology. They are here now to say they have had enough."

During the conversations, six members of the Briarcliff Fire Company 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 Bility's name who was shot and killed in Sharon Hill in August 2021, according to a letter addressed to Darby Borough from the Goodwill Fire Company.

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

Castor issued a statement from the family in February after the fire company's suspension.

"By brazenly mocking Fanta and her death, some associated with Briarcliffe Fire Department did a disservice to the community they are sworn to protect, thereby reopening wounds from that fateful night when Fanta lay mortally wounded, though conscious, knowing her life drained away," the family said. "To trivialize what this young girl endured that night gives new meaning to the descriptive 'despicable.'"

Three Sharon Hill Police officers — Devon Smith, 34, Sean Dolan, 25, and Brian Devaney, 41 — are each charged with a total of 12 criminal counts of manslaughter and reckless endangerment for their actions the night of Aug. 27, 2021 outside the Academy Park High School stadium that led to Fanta's death.

A judge recently upheld the charges brought against the three officers.

"Fanta was a bright, bubbly, innocent child who looked forward to a life filled with helping others who were hurting or injured — before being killed by careless actions of three Sharon Hill Police officers," the family said. "A kind and loving girl, Fanta brightened the lives of everyone she met."

The Bility family's comments echoed those made by local, county, state, and federal officials from Delaware County.

Delaware County Councilman and Darby resident Richard Womack at a February news conference said no one should be subject to such comments.

"I'm appalled to have to stand here today and hear about these racist comments," he said.
Six members of the Briarcliff Fire Company were overheard on a Jan. 27 virtual meeting about fire company consolidation using racist slurs in reference to fellow firefighters at other companies in Darby Township.

Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon said the comments were a betrayal of public trust.

"Pennsylvania's firefighters are renowned for the civic community and endless hours they serve our communities," she said. "That's what makes this all the more horrifying."

State Sen. Anthony Williams said the public should not condemn the firefighting community as a whole for these few members' comments.

Williams also commended the Goodwill Fire Company, which brought the comments to the township's attention, for shedding light on the incident.

"Light drives out darkness, and that's what happened last night," he said. "Moments like this tell us how much more work we have to do."

"Whether or not a crime occurred, hate speech is always morally wrong," District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said.

The Briarcliff Fire Company issued a statement in response to the allegations against its members, saying racial discrimination has no place among its ranks.

"Our volunteers have no place for anyone who engages in any form of racial discrimination or disparagement," the fire company said.

The racial comments were unacceptable, the fire company said, and also added it may get rid of the members who said them.