Former Prospect Park Fire Chief Jim Simmons has resigned from his position after he made comments on a community Facebook page wishing the shooter from the attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump has aimed “a little more to the right.”
The comments, now deleted, were made in a Citizens of Delco public Facebook page on Saturday, July 13.
The Prospect Park Fire company made a Facebook post on Monday, July 15, detailing the board meeting they held on Sunday, July 14 to discuss the post and accept the immediate resignation of Simmons from his post.
“The Prospect Park Fire Company does not condone this type of behavior by our members or our leadership,” Prospect Park Fire Company Chairman Joe Magee said in the announcement. “We are deeply saddened by Chief Simmonds comments and agreed that it would be best if he stepped down in his role as Chief.”
The assistant fire chief was appointed by the Prospect Park Fire Company’s board to fill the role for the rest of Simmonds’ term.
An attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump was made at a Trump Rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 13. Secret Service members moved Trump off the stage after shots were fired on him while speaking at the rally. A bullet grazed the former president’s ear, but he was otherwise unharmed.
A local Pennsylvania firefighter was killed in the audience, and two other audience members were critically wounded.
The shooter, 20 year old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed during the incident. FBI agents were able to identify him by tracing the rifle he used, which had been legally purchased by his father.
Trump was able to travel and arrived in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, which kicked off on Monday, July 15.
