Fire Rescue News -Former Atlantic City firefighter gets three years probation for threatening to kill his ex-wife

By LYNDA COHEN, Staff Writer | Posted: Friday, March 5, 2010 | 9 comments

MAYS LANDING — A former Atlantic City firefighter was sentenced to three years' probation for threatening his ex-wife. But whether he is mandated to give up public service work is still up for debate.

 Robert Wenzel, 43, admitted in January that on March 14, 2009, he called his former spouse and "told her I was going to kill her."....Continue Reading

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. He was later arrested in Kentucky after he hit a car in a parking lot and left the scene. A local television news crew captured the crash on video and called police.

Now, the question remains whether Wenzel is barred from employment as a firefighter.

He was fired after the incident, but the termination date is earlier than the offense date, defense attorney Matthew Portella argued.

Wenzel had been put on leave from the Fire Department more than a year earlier to seek treatment for an undisclosed problem. Discussions in court indicated he battled alcoholism. He was cleared to return to work Feb. 18, 2009, but was fired when he failed to show up five days in a row.

Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury asked Portella and Assistant Prosecutor Harlee Stein to submit briefs and will make a decision April 16.

Wenzel faced as long as five years probation under the plea agreement, but both sides agreed to no jail time. He did not speak during his sentencing but did apologize in his presentencing report, Portella said.

Contact Lynda Cohen:  609-272-7257    LCohen@pressofac.com