The latest group of volunteer firefighters for Rockland County have graduated, but if a recent lawsuit has any validity, new recruits in the village of Piermont might want to be careful. A father has filed a federal suit on behalf of his 17-year-old son against the volunteer Fire Department there, saying that forcible sodomy is a "prerequisite" for the department's volunteers.
Mark Bernstein sued the village and three firefighters in federal court on behalf of his son, claiming that the village knew about the ritual and "took no steps to prevent this rite of passage and as such acquiesced in its implementation." In fact, he says that every prospective firefighter is subjected to this and that the village has created "a receptive atmosphere for the various acts of pedophilia performed by the co-defendants."
According to the complaint Bernstein's son was "battered, physically restrained, pushed, shoved and forced into submission," when he joined the force in August 2010 and that the abuse left him "physically and psychologically ill." So much so his father worries he is "permanently damaged."
What exactly are we talking about? Let's turn to the complaint!
(S)ometime prior to Aug. 14, 2020, and on occasions too numerous to mention, the defendant the Village of Piermont promulgated, fostered and implemented a policy whereby new arrivals ('initiates') into the position of volunteer firefighter would be subject to a form of 'hazing' whereby fellow firefighters would restrain the initiate's movements, depriving him of his freedom of movement, expose their genitals to the said initiate, and attempt to forcibly cause the initiate to place his hand upon and/or fondle the genitals of various members of the Piermont Fire Department, and/or force the said initiate against his will by dint of duress to sodomize an existing firefighter.
The Bernsteins are seeking damages for "battery, civil rights violations and outrage." We were unable to reach anyone from the volunteer fire department for comment.
