HACKETTSTOWN – The chief of the Hackettstown Fire Department, Stanley Davis Jr., 51, was recently suspended the day after being arrested in connection with possession of child pornography, according to Town Clerk Bill Kuster.

The letter suspending him as fire chief directed him to turn in gear, radios, identification, pagers, keys and any equipment he has, to the department, Kuster said.

Deputy Chief Scott Tillou will serve as acting chief of the fire department. Kuster said he did not know what action, if any, would be taken within the fire department. Tillou declined to comment and directed questions to Mayor Maria DiGiovanni who said that the suspension was the correct course of action.

“The suspension was in the best interest of the town and the fire department and, of course, it should have no reflection on the fire department. At this point it’s an unfortunate incident.”

On Thursday, May 24, Davis was charged with being in possession of pictures of children under the age of 16 of a pornographic nature, Warren County Prosecutor Richard T. Burke said.

Davis was charged with one count of fourth-degree possession of child pornography, the prosecutor said. The crime carries a maximum prison term of up to 18 months in New Jersey state prison.

Bail was set at $20,000 with a 10 percent option by Judge Edward Palmer.

The arrest of Davis was made by Detective Dawn Dalrymple of Warren County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit. The investigation was conducted by the unit as well as the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hackettstown Police Department.