Atlantic City fire chief dropped pants at metal detector

Atlantic City's fire chief, Dennis Brooks, has been accused by a city worker of dropping his pants as he was about to pass through a metal detector, according to The Press of Atlantic City and NBC 10.

Atlantic City skyline (Jerry Driendl, Getty Images)

The Press reports that the incident, alleged in a letter sent to the city by an unidentified city worker's lawyer, began when Brooks was asked to remove all metal objects from his person before going through the city Public Safety Building's metal detector.

According to NBC 10, the letter states: “At that point, Chief Brooks undid his belt, pulled down his pants and, "standing there in his underwear," told the workers he was "having a bad day."

The letter, signed by lawyer Sebatian Ionno, asks that Brooks be reprimanded, any surveillance video be preserved and the worker be protected from possible repercussions, according to NBC 10.

Brooks is on an administrative leave, according to the Press of Atlantic City, for unknown reasons. According to the city's website, he has served as chief since 1979.

Following Superstorm Sandy in 2012, the firefighters union took a no-confidence vote against Brooks, citing safety concerns and a lack of leadership. The city's Beach Patrol union also claimed that Brooks tried to retaliate against the union after his daughter was turned down as a lifeguard.