CORTLAND, N.Y. — An Ithaca firefighter is facing misdemeanor charges stemming from an incident involving a long gun last week, officials confirmed.
Daryl Pace, 33, is accused of standing in her driveway with a long gun and "menacing" Cortland firefighters as they flushed a nearby hydrant. She allegedly did not speak to the firefighters and they left upon seeing the weapon.
Pace was arraigned at Cortland City court and charged with misdemeanors of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree obstruction of governmental administration and second-degree menacing. Her gun was confiscated by police.
Ithaca Fire Chief Tom Parsons said Pace is still employed and on active duty.
"We didn't see that there was a threat to her, to our employees, or the community as a whole," he said about keeping her on board.
He said that since he's been chief in 2011, this is the first serious criminal incident that he recalls involving a fire fighter.
"I certainly feel concerned for the Cortland firefighters and the Cortland Fire Department," he said, noting that he was unsure in the incident was just a matter of "bad judgement" on Pace's part or if there were other circumstances at play.
He said that even if Pace is found guilty of any of the charges, it likely will not impact her employment because they are misdemeanor charges, not felonies.
"I think we'll look at that in and of itself," he said about possible reprimands for the incident, if Pace is found guilty.
