after some of its members were recorded allegedly using racial slurs and disparaging Black residents, announced Wednesday it has voted to disband.
Briarcliffe members remained on the call after the meeting had adjourned and allegedly went on to disparage Black volunteers from the other fire companies and say it was time to leave the township because Black residents continued to move in. Members also allegedly mocked the name of 8-year-old Fanta Bility,The Goodwill Fire Company sent Darby Township commissioners the recording in February with a summary of what Briarcliffe members said.
The firehouse’s abrupt decision to disband has introduced a new quandary for commissioners as local activists call for volunteers involved in the incident to face additional repercussions. Meanwhile, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer launched an investigation to determine if the comments captured in the recording amounted to crimes.