The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) is threatening to “hunt down” firefighters and other department staff who booed New York Attorney General Letitia James during a ceremony on Thursday in a show of support for former President Donald Trump.
The incident in question occurred as James took the stage for a speech at Brooklyn’s Christian Cultural Center to celebrate the swearing-in of Rev. Pamela Holmes, the FDNY’s first Black female chaplain. As James approached the podium, a chorus of boos and jeers broke out from the audience of firefighters and civilians.
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“Oh, come on. We’re in a house of God. Simmer down,” James said, trying and failing to calm the crowd. “Thank you for getting it out of your system.”
As soon as the boos died down, they were immediately replaced by loud chants of “Trump! Trump! Trump!” delaying the speech even further.
Much of the crowd’s ire stems from Attorney General James’ prosecution of former President Trump, which most recently resulted in a $454 million civil fraud penalty against him. Trump has also been banned from conducting business in the state of New York for several years, but that judgment has been put on hold to allow him to leverage in-state assets to post the bond during his appeal.
James has also threatened to seize Trump’s New York assets, including the iconic Trump Tower, if he is unable to put up the full amount.
Related: New York Court Denies Trump’s Request to Delay Civil Fraud Payment
In response to the unruly behavior at the swearing-in ceremony, FDNY Chief of Department John Hodges sent an email alerting other chiefs that the department’s Bureau of Investigation and Trials was working to identify the individuals responsible. As reported by the New York Post, Hodges’ email stated:
BITS is investigating this, so they will figure out who the members are. I recommend they come forward. I have been told by the commissioner it will be better for them if they come forward and we don’t have to hunt them down. The [deputy chiefs] shall direct the captain of the company to make a list of those who come forward and send it directly to [FDNY operations]. I realize members might not come forward but they should know that there is clear video of the entire incident and they will be contacted by BITS if they don’t.
A separate memo handed out to FDNY personnel on Sunday warned firefighters to keep politics at home and avoid engaging in such behavior while on duty.
When you’re not on duty, feel however you want about politicians. Vote. Protest. That’s your right. But don’t do it on the job’s time, on other members’ time, or on their families’ time. Do it on your own time.
…
[Firefighters] should understand that BITS is gathering video and identifying members that brought discredit … to the department. We want the members to come forward. They will come to HQ to be educated [on] why their behavior is unacceptable.
Despite the harsh wording of these communiques, the FDNY pushed back against claims that anyone was being “hunted down.” Instead, officials stated that the department is only interested in maintaining professionalism.
“Nobody is hunting anyone down,” FDNY spokesman Jim Long told Fox News. “We’re looking into those who clearly broke department regulations. It has nothing to do with politics. It’s about professionalism at an official event held in a house of worship.”
But the department’s attempted clarification has fallen on deaf ears among its staff.
An FDNY retiree reportedly told the Post “It was a political stunt for the city to have the AG there.”
“When it backfired, they sent their fascist pit bulls after guys for exercising their First Amendment rights,” he continued. “Most were off-duty and not in FDNY uniform.”
Meanwhile, the Uniformed Fire Officers Association is warning members that the BITS is reviewing footage of the incident, urging them to “contact the UFOA for legal representation if they feel they are the subject of an investigation.”
Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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