MILLVILLE, Del. - The alleged actions of two ex volunteer fire fighters continues to draw in debate, hurt and reactions from local racial justice organizations.
Kurt Bacon, President of the Lower Sussex Branch of the NAACP, says he supports the fire department immediately revoking their memberships.
"I would like to salute Hocker. To do what he did, to me it was the right move," said Bacon.
He is referring to Greg Hocker, president of the Millville Volunteer Fire Company
However, he says what happened in Millville is not an isolated situation. Bacon recalls the situation at the Lewes Fire Department, where a firefighter was heard on radio calling someone a "porch monkey," a racial slur used towards African Americans.
"We know about the one at the Lewes Fire Department. They suspended the guy, but they also need to make him do extensive diversity training," Bacon shared.
With that incident and this recent hate crime charge in Millville, Bacon is now calling for proper training for all fire departments.
"The chiefs associate and the volunteer fire chiefs associations need to address it and need to teach their folks about being diversified, it may be a reason why you can't get new recruits in your fire departments."
Bacon says diversity training needs to be incorporated into the curriculum at the Delaware State Fire School.