Fire Director Faces Charge Of Strangulation
Editorial: Thiessen Is The Swing Vote On Carty
On Thursday, May 28, 2026, Fire Director Jason Carty was charged with Aggravated Assault of his wife, Gina LaPlaca, by strangulation [see below]. If you want to know more details of the domestic violence call which brought the police to LaPlaca’s Lumberton home, check the NJ Globe article here
This editorial focuses on a related question:
In light of legal advice to fire Carty and the most recent police charges, what would it take to convince Fire District Chair Jules Thiessen to vote for termination of Jason Carty as Director of Fire Services?
Recap of Carty’s Fire District Personnel Investigation and Subsequent Vote to Terminate:
As previously reported, Mr. Carty was the subject of a personnel investigation by the law firm Parker McKay after allegations of misconduct arose. As the investigation began during November 2025, Carty was placed on paid administrative leave. By March 2026, Parker McKay finished its review and recommended to the Fire Commissioners that Carty be terminated. But three of the five Commissioners, including Thiessen, did not vote on that matter because they were either advised by the attorney that they had a conflict, or they chose for undisclosed reasons to refrain from the vote. This left 2 commissioners to vote which resulted in a 1-1 tie. Commissioner Saucier voted to retain and Commissioner Logue voted to fire Carty.
This left Mr. Carty in a status of paid administrative leave. Carty has taken to social media where he claimed his employee rights were violated, despite being on paid leave. The Reporter notes that he has been paid approximately $20,000 while on leave.
Failed Attempt to Reinstate Carty:
In early May 2026, Fire Commissioner Nicole Saucier made a public statement that advice by the personnel attorney is not binding. She then introduced a resolution to reinstate Director Carty and it appeared that Commissioner Gaskill would vote despite her previous recusal. Commissioner Sheppard then stated that if Gaskill voted to reinstate despite attorney’s advice, Sheppard would also ignore the same advice and vote. But the vote on reinstatement did not occur because Thiessen, Logue and Sheppard voted to table Saucier’s resolution. Saucier and Gaskill voted against tabling.
What is Now Keeping Thiessen From Voting To Remove Carty?
Thiessen’s vote to scuttle Saucier’s resolution may indicate a reluctance on his part to bring Carty back. The Reporter inquired twice with Thiessen to explain why he recused, but as of the publication of this story, Mr. Thiessen has not replied.
The Reporter does not know why the personnel attorney advised certain members to recuse from voting on Mr. Carty’s termination vote or if Thiessen was advised by them at all.
Here are facts about Thiessen and Carty’s relationship which might be at play.
Mr. Carty ran Thiessen’s Fire Commissioner campaign via direct mail, social media and yard signs paid for by the “Burlington County Labor Voice”
Mr. Thiessen and Mr. Carty are both board members of the “Mount Holly United” charity.
Carty and Thiessen have a long political association in Mount Holly.