Bob Levy ( politician ) Robert W . Levy , Sr . , known as Bob Levy , ( born May 16 , 1947 , in Atlantic City , New Jersey ) is a Democratic politician and the former mayor of Atlantic City , New Jersey . In September 2007 , Levy disappeared from Atlantic City without telling the public or the press why he was leaving . His sudden absence sparked a controversy over who should become the Acting Mayor of Atlantic City . On October 10 , 2007 , attorneys for Levy announced his resignation , effective immediately . Early life . Levy is a lifelong resident of Atlantic City . He became a lifeguard in 1960 and married in 1964 after graduating from Atlantic City High School . Levy married Hazel Washington , an African American woman , and experienced hostility from his own family for the interracial marriage . Military career . Shortly after his marriage , Levy enlisted in the U . S . Army . After basic and advanced infantry training at Fort Dix , New Jersey , basic airborne training at Fort Benning , Georgia , and an eight - week field communications course Levy was assigned to Fort Knox , Kentucky , as a field communications crewman . In August 1965 Levy was sent to Würzburg , Germany , before being assigned to the 1st Aviation Battalion , 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam . In April 1967 Levy returned to the United States and was assigned to Fort Hood , Texas . In 1970 Levy began his second tour in Vietnam . In June 1971 he came back to the U . S . and after leave became a tactical communications chief instructor for 10 months at Fort Dix . During his tours during the Vietnam War he was awarded two Bronze Stars . In June 1972 Levy began working as an army recruiting officer in Toms River , New Jersey , and later , starting in February 1974 , Atlantic City . Levy was named Atlantic City ' s station commander in 1976 and in 1980 was assigned to 1st Battalion , 19th Field Artillery in Fort Carson , Colorado , and promoted to First Sergeant . Levy stayed in Colorado until 1982 when he returned to New Jersey at Fort Monmouth in September where he stayed until he retired in 1984 . Return to Atlantic City . After he retired Levy went back to being a lifeguard and in 1986 became the chief lifeguard and beach patrol chief . Between 1990 and 2003 , appointed by then - Mayor Jim Whelan , Levy served as Atlantic City ' s Emergency Management Director . From 1998 to 2006 Levy headed the Department of Emergency Services . After being a lifelong Republican , Levy switched party affiliation to Democrat in 2004 . Levy entered the race for mayor of Atlantic City after City Council President Craig Callaway withdrew from the Democratic mayoral primary in 2005 . With backing from Callaway and his supporters , Levy beat incumbent mayor Lorenzo T . Langford in the Democratic primary . Levy went on to easily win the mayoral election against independent candidate Joseph Polillo . False claims of service and the federal investigation . As early as 1980 Levy ' s began to claim he was a member of U . S . Army Special Forces . The claim was also on campaign literature during his 2005 campaign for mayor . After doubts of Levy ' s Green Beret service was expressed to " The Press of Atlantic City " by James Simmons , a Vietnam War veteran in September 2006 , the newspaper began investigating Levy ' s war records and discovered there was no record he was in the U . S . Special Forces . In November 2006 " The Press of Atlantic City " planned on publishing its findings ; Levy then admitted he was never in the U . S . Special Forces . Upon this information , federal investigators began to examine whether or not Levy properly obtained a Combat Infantryman Badge ( CIB ) that he used to obtain additional veterans ' benefits . Levy admitted that he lied about receiving the CIB as well as Parachutist Badge or " jump wings . " Levy also admitted that there were false entries on his official service record which he did not correct and that he used these false entries to obtain benefits . Disappearance . In late September 2007 , rumors began to emerge about the federal investigation and questions were raised about whether or not Levy would resign as mayor . On September 26 , 2007 , after signing seven ordinance s into law , Levy left Atlantic City in a city - issued Dodge Durango for an unknown destination . Administration officials said Levy was on temporary medical leave , but refused to say where he went . His lawyer later revealed that Levy had checked into the Carrier Clinic in Belle Mead , New Jersey , about two hours north of Atlantic City . At the time of Mayor Levy ' s unexplained disappearance , Atlantic City Business Administrator Domenic Cappella told officials and the press that Levy had verbally designated him as Acting Mayor of Atlantic City . During the Atlantic City Council meeting on October 3 , 2007 , both members of the public and the Council demanded the Business Administrator yield the office of Acting Mayor of Atlantic City to the President of the City Council , William Marsh . On October 5 , 2007 , claiming that the " mysterious disappearance of Mayor Levy is now a national news story causing significant embarrassment and exposing the city to unwarranted risk , " Councilman Bruce Ward filed suit in Superior Court asking for a declaratory judgment that the Office of Mayor of Atlantic City was vacant . That same day Governor Jon Corzine offered state assistance and staff to help the city , stated that Levy ' s disappearance was " dysfunctional and chaotic behavior , " and that " the situation today can ' t go on for an extended period of time . " . Resignation and aftermath . On October 9 , a Superior Court Judge indicated she would rule on whether the mayor ' s seat was vacant or not by October 12 , and administration officials released a letter from Levy ' s lawyer to the Business Administrator dated September 28 explaining that Levy had checked into the Carrier Clinic and was about to leave and spend time recovering at home . One day after this letter was released , Levy ' s lawyer announced that Levy had resigned , effective immediately . Levy ' s attorney cited health issues and the pending Federal Department of Veterans Affairs investigation for the resignation . After pleading guilty of defrauding the U . S . Department of Veterans Affairs in November 2007 , Levy was sentenced to three years probation , US $ 5 , 000 fine , and ordered to pay over US $ 25 , 198 in restitution to the Department of Veterans Affairs . The July 25 , 2008 , ruling also required Levy to continue his court - ordered psychiatric treatment . The judge noted that Levy seems to be continuing to embellish his military record , by claiming he helped out the Pathfinders , which does not appear on his record .