Margate Firefighter Charged with Theft

An eight month investigation has resulted in a Margate firefighter being charged with theft and official misconduct.

Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain says Michael C. Palmer, 36, of Somers Point was charged yesterday with two 2nd degree crimes.

According to McClain,

The State alleges that Palmer, while employed by the City of Margate as a Lieutenant of
the Fire Department, used his position as Secretary/Treasurer of the New Jersey
Fireman’s Mutual Benevolent Association (FMBA) Local 41 (Margate), to take more
than $75,000 from FMBA Local 41 bank accounts between January 2011 and June
2014, and made personal use of the money.

The Prosecutor’s Office was alerted to irregularities in Margate FMBA Local 41 bank
accounts in June 2014. Lt. Palmer was immediately suspended from his employment
by the City of Margate, pending the outcome of the investigation.

A conviction for a 2nd degree crime carries a potential sentence of 5 to 10 years of
incarceration in New Jersey State prison.