A former suburban Philadelphia assistant fire chief has been convicted of ethnic intimidation and related charges after prosecutors said he hurled racial slurs at a Black woman during a road-rage confrontation in 2024.
John Romano, 48, was found guilty on Aug. 24 following a bench trial in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
The incident happened Nov. 21, 2024, when Romano was loading trees onto a truck with a forklift and blocking Hook Road in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania.
What Happened?
A Black woman attempting to drive around the obstruction became involved in an argument with Romano, who accused her of honking before directing racial slurs and other insults at her.
According to the woman, she was one of several drivers waiting to get around Romano. She said she was second in a line of seven vehicles when she attempted to pass him. Romano allegedly allowed the first vehicle through but tried to prevent her from doing the same.
The confrontation escalated when Romano allegedly photographed the woman’s license plate and told her he would find out where she lived. She also told police that the volunteer firefighter claimed to have connections with law enforcement and could have her vehicle towed.
The woman called 911 after the encounter and reported Romano to police, according to ABC 6.
Romano Confesses to Investigators
During an interview with investigators, Romano initially admitted using the N-word against the woman. According to the case information, he also told an officer that he believed “they are all animals” and that he was “tired of dealing with them.”
The then-Sharon Hill Fire Company assistant fire chief later backed away from portions of his statement, but prosecutors said his revised account still included a comparison of Black people to wild animals.
The case drew attention because of Romano’s position as assistant fire chief, placing the allegations against someone who had held a public safety position in the community.
Darby Township Police Chief Mike Sousa was among the local officials who condemned the alleged conduct when the incident first became public.
“We will not tolerate this type of behavior in Darby Township without a consequence,” Sousa said at the time.
Sharon Hill Council President Tanya Allen also addressed the allegations and said the fire company’s Board of Trustees had suspended Romano. The borough subsequently ended its relationship with him, according to previous reporting.
“Our community and our neighbors deserve to feel comfort and safety when thinking about a first responder coming and what perspective that person has of them,” Allen said.
The alleged confrontation occurred outside J&P Fence, a business Romano previously owned.
Damaging Body-camera Footage Is Concealed
Police also had body-camera footage from the incident. Sousa previously said officers were disturbed after reviewing the recording and brought it to his attention, leading to charges against Romano.
“The officers that were involved were shocked as much as I was shocked after reviewing it and brought it right to my attention and the charges were filed. It was pretty cut and dry and that easy,” Sousa said.
Romano denied the allegations but acknowledged making racist comments during his police interview. He was ultimately charged with disorderly conduct, harassment, terroristic threats and ethnic intimidation.
The case also became a political issue in Delaware County, with state Sen. Anthony Williams criticizing District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer over his handling of the case, including the decision not to release the body-camera footage. Stollsteimer pushed back against Williams’ criticism.
He said, “Absolutely not. That is evidence of a crime. It’s not a prop for a press conference; it is evidence of a crime, and I would be outside of my ethical duties as district attorney. There is no legitimate law enforcement purpose to release to the public that video evidence until such time as he has gone through the criminal justice process.”
The footage of the incident has not since been released.
Romano’s conviction now brings the criminal case closer to its conclusion. He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 28.
