[freedomnews]

BRAVEST RIP TOP COPS

By LARRY CELONA, PHILIP MESSING, ZACH HABERMAN and ERIKA MARTINEZ

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RELEASED:

A firefighter leaves Manhattan Criminal Court yesterday.

November 4, 2001 -- Firefighters yesterday blamed police supervisors for the battle at ground zero, even as cops arrested one more of the Bravest. Videotapes and photos, including news footage, were examined by cops to identify firefighters who may have assaulted or pushed police officers during the protest.

Afterward, cops went to arrest firefighter union president Kevin Gallagher for trespassing for his alleged role in the melee.

Tom Butler a spokesman for the Uniformed Firefighters Association, said the union leader surrendered after he attended a firefighter's memorial service.

"Mr. Gallagher did nothing more than lead his men into what we consider hallowed, sacred grounds for a moment of silence and to say the Lord's Prayer," Butler said.

"It is inappropriate" that cops are going to such great lengths to find people to charge, said Steven Rabinowitz, lawyer for the Uniformed Fire Officers Association.

"It was a scuffle at worst. People at the highest level of the Police Department and City Hall want to turn it into a witch hunt. It's really not constructive."

Five cops, including two high-ranking officials, suffered black eyes and other minor injuries after being hit and pushed to the ground by firefighters in Friday afternoon's melee.

Cops are also investigating the possibility that some protesting firefighters were on duty during the rally, police said.

Twelve arrests were made after firefighters and cops got into a scuffle during a protest over the city's decision to limit the number of rescue workers allowed to help at ground zero.

Union officials say the incident was the culmination of three days of efforts to address their concerns about the man- power cutbacks with the mayor.

Several officials went after Mayor Giuliani, attacking him for heading to Arizona to watch the World Series.

"It's typical. Baseball first, the needs of the firemen second," said Peter Gorman, head of the UFOA.

The mayor's office declined to comment.

Two of the 12 arrested, Martin McHale and Mike Destefano, were released early yesterday after prosecutors decided not to file charges against them.

Hours earlier, McHale had been suspended by Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen for his role in the protests - the only firefighter suspended from the showdown. According to lawyer Rabinowitz, McHale will be reinstated soon.

The other 10 were released at about 2:30 a.m. All were charged with trespassing, while three of them - Lt. Steve Carbone, Lt. Pete Walsh and Lt. Jack Ginty - were hit with other charges, including obstructing government administration and disorderly conduct.

[Movemout]

Sounds like stress levels have risen to unbearable levels. Someone better be looking at that.

[Anamensis]

These folks are and have been under a lot of strain, both physical and emotional. I can see why the recovery effort must be turned over to heavy machinery, because there is definitely no one left alive in there. But it's perfectly understandable that these men don't want to leave their fallen to be shoveled up with bulldozers like the victims of the concentration camps. They're on the brink of exhaustion and will no doubt have to be pulled away from the site kicking and crying. But no observer has the right to declaim them as "heroes no more." They have worked to the edge of their capabilities and are emotionally spent now. Their reaction to this decision is very understandable and it is inappropriate to condemn them, IMHO.

[t-shirt]

I was sickened when I read yesterday that some of the Firefighters were complaining that debri was being dumped in dumpsters before they could search through it for bodies/body parts.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Never forget that the very first job of the police is to protect the governmental powers at all costs. Anyone believe that we are NOT in a police state?

[Dahoser]

Let's not lose sight of the union's role in fomenting this. Things were fine till they got involved. There was no need for a confrontation and subsequent statements made on local NY television by some firemen that they were coming back with large numbers to overwhelm the cops. After everything that has gone on, it was heartbreaking to see and hear this.