A prank gone wrong is giving one Secaucus resident more than he bargained for.
Volunteer firefighter Richard Ballance is awaiting a hearing on a practical joke he played just before April Fool’s day that got him suspended. In an article about the incident last month, Ballance refused to comment. But now he is saying the town blew the incident out of proportion.
Toward the end of March, Ballance, a fireman at Engine Company Number 3 on Centre Street, called Lt. George Spangenberg and said, “I’m gonna kill you.” While Ballance thought it was an obvious prank, Spangenberg didn’t recognize the voice.
Spangenberg, concerned, called the Secaucus Police Department. The call launched an investigation that led police to Ballance. Upon investigation by two local detectives, Ballance was not charged with any criminal offenses. However, the case was transferred to the Fire Department for disciplinary action.
“The detectives determined this was not an act of criminality,” said Fire Chief Dennis Corcoran. “But that does not preclude a person [from being] charged by the Fire Department.” Ballance said that reports in local news media were overblown and unfair. He also said he believes his treatment by the Fire Department and town administration are in response to a letter he published in another local newspaper. “Everyone is making a mountain out of a mole hill,” said Ballance. “There was no public record, and to put this in the paper was just to make me look stupid. It was just a joke.” Ballance says a letter he wrote to a local newspaper criticizing Fire Department practices is what first got him into hot water. Ballance said he was told repeatedly by one chief that his “head was on the chopping block” after writing the letter. “There’s quite a few things that don’t make sense, like why I was suspended indefinitely and why there is no hearing,” said Ballance.
Hearing date
However, Town Administrator Anthony Iacono said he harbors no ill feeling against Ballance regarding the letters.
“But there is no such thing as a joke when it comes to a death threat,” said Iacono. “A crime was committed.” Town Attorney Frank Leanza said the length of time to schedule a hearing was out of fairness. Leanza said they were looking to use an objective outside party instead of the three local chiefs.
Battalion Chief Michael Gonnelli and Lt. Spangenberg are related by marriage. The director of Hudson North Regional was considered briefly, but he had associations with the town administrator’s father.
“We decided on a department director from Jersey City who is highly qualified in situations of this nature,” said Leanza. “We’re bending over backwards to make sure this is not a politically oriented hearing.”
Leanza sent a letter to Ballance, Vito Sciancalepore, Ballance’s attorney, and Armando Roman, director of the Jersey City Fire Department, on May 2. The letter says Roman has been designated to preside over the disciplinary action and suggests holding the hearing at the second floor council chambers in Secaucus, which are equipped with a recording system.
Leanza provided a copy of the letter to the newspaper, although Ballance said that he had not received it as of Wednesday.
Ballance’s hearing will be conducted with presentation of witnesses, with possible sequestering of witnesses, according to the letter. The date of the hearing will be determined when the three parties can agree on a mutually acceptable time.
“This incident was [meant] to get me on something. It’s so blown out of proportion,” said Ballance. “I’m being harassed any way you look at it.”