Atlantic City - Prosecutor Ted Housel answers critics on Firehouse 2 decision

Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel

Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel said he is deeply offended at the charges of racism or giving special breaks to firefighters in the case of Firehouse 2 in Atlantic City. A father of four girls, three who are under the age of 16 makes Housel highly aware of the dangers girls face in society.

The law is the law, according to Housel and he was unable to make a case out of the incident at Firehouse 2.

“We have to prove the absence of consent,” said Housel. “We don’t indict cases that are marginal or that we are going to lose. The power to indict is the power to destroy.”

Before Housel became prosecutor he had a long history of criminal defense work. He said that many of his clients were minorities and he was a zealous advocate for his clients.

Housel also pointed to a case in his office of a white Atlantic City firefighter who was trolling the internet for juveniles. The alleged predator came across an agent of the prosecutor instead and charges were filed against him.

“If I was protecting firemen or white firemen, I could have just shut this investigation down,” said Housel. “That was an investigation where no other agencies were involved. Race plays no part in any decision that I make, and the decisions of my subordinates, at the risk of them being terminated.”

The prosecutor is also a member of American Conference on Diversity in the local chapter. He says he has a long history and a strong commitment for racial parity in the community and in the law.

Housel said that despite behavior that is creepy, reprehensible or morally inappropriate, he can not change the law.

“I know what the law is,” said Housel. “And I know how to apply the law.”