Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
Six FDNY firefighters have been suspended after taking their apparatus to the office of a state legislator last week and “berating” his staff over the COVID vaccine mandate. Members of Ladder 113 reportedly went to Senator Zellnor Myrie’s office in Brooklyn and told his staffers they would have “blood on their hands” over implementation of the vaccine mandate.
The incident reportedly occurred last Friday. The New York Post quoted Myrie as saying”
- “I am outraged.”
- “One, that on duty officers who were supposed to be focused on keeping us safe and responding to emergencies would attempt to use their uniforms and their fire truck to intimidate my staff.”
- “[S]econdly, it is disturbing that they would approach a state elected official for a city mandate and would I think offer veiled threats about my own safety by asking where I live personally.”
The Post also reported that the firefighters said they would not respond to Myrie’s house for a fire. Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro was quoted as saying:
- “This is a highly inappropriate act by on-duty members of this Department who should only be concerned with responding to emergencies and helping New Yorkers and not harassing an elected official and his staff.”
Also last week, the firefighters union filed suit in state court seeking an injunction to block implementation of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s vaccine mandate. If implemented, the mandate may result in the closure of up to 20% of their apparatus. More on the lawsuit.
