Firefighters Outraged By 9/11 Looting Accusations

WNBC-TV ^ | November 18, 2002 | WNBC-TV

[Paladin2b]

Book Claims Looting Began Before First Tower Fell

POSTED: 6:53 p.m. EST November 18, 2002 UPDATED: 7:40 p.m. EST November 18, 2002

NEW YORK -- Author William Langewiesche says something secret and sorry was mixed in with the rescue, sadness and tumult of the attack on America on Sept. 11, 2001. "The looting was shadowy, widespread,..." he writes in "American Ground," referring to less heroic actions of some firefighters, police and later, cleanup workers.

Peter Gorman, president of the Fire Officer's Union, has organized firefighter rallies against the accusations at readings and book signings by Langewiesche.

"For him to insinuate that a firefighter got off the truck that morning and told his captain, 'I'll be right with you Cap, let me go down and grab a couple pair of jeans and I'll be right back inside,' is disgusting," said Gorman.

But as NewsChannel 4 first reported last spring, the existence of looting at and around ground zero is undeniable.

Tourneau's marketing boss said then that his downtown inventory was wiped out, and not by toppling tours

"There was maybe 20 watches left in the store out of a few hundred," said Andrew Block.

In the recently released, "American Ground," Langewiesche writes about a fire ladder truck recovered from the pile of fallen debris.

"Its crew cab was filled with dozens of new pairs of jeans from The Gap," he writes. "It was hard to avoid the conclusion that the looting had begun even before the first tower fell, and that while hundreds of doomed firemen had climbed through the wounded buildings, this particular crew had been engaged in something else entirely."

"These accusations are completely without merit," said Gorman. "And any looting down there I believe was minimal. Who was doing it? I have no idea, I'm not a police agency."

The widow of one of 343 firefighters who perished in the World Trade Center attack said having this book is like having one more kick in the stomach.

italicize Atlantic Monthly magazine calls Langewiesche an experienced and levelheaded reporter and the facts were vigorously check and rechecked for five months before the articles came out.

[Ciexyz]

sad story. How can they account for those jeans in the fire truck?

[ozzymandus]

I remember reading that the stores in the lower areas of the towers were full of looters when the buildings collapsed. I thought, "Well, at least that's one good thing." It wouldn't suprise me if some firemen were among the looters, but I don't see how that tarnishes all firemen.

[MonroeDNA]

Based on one writer's word? Simple. Discard it.

[ikka]

It is the case that there was a lot of looting. The watch stores specifically in the underground mall were smash and grab. However, more proof is needed to show that they were fireman rather than just others.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

This stuff happens. In the London Blitz, emergency workers were known to pocket money and valuables- why do you want to deny that it could happen in New York?

By the way, I have great admiration for firefighters- but I read this series in THE ATLANTIC (as you probably did not), and the facts appear to be there.

By the way, you might want to check into the theft of critical fire department property at the Pentagon by members of some other departments who responded- last I heard, it had still not all been recovered. As I said, this stuff happens.

[Alissa]

I'd like to share a recent experience regarding the FDNY. I took my daughter and 2 grandchildren (5 & 3) with me on a business trip to NYC last week. At the corner of our hotel in Midtown was a fire station. A firetruck was just backing into its stall as we were crossing the street. I nudged my daughter and said let's say hello. Within seconds, the driver of the fire truck scooped up my grandson (3) and placed him in the driver's seat. He let him turn on the motor and run the red lights, spending approximately 1 to 2 minutes with him. After my grandson, he then plucked up my granddaughter (5) and repeated the same actions. I was so impressed with their graciousness and their consideration. Needless to say, my grandson now wants to be a fireman when he grows up. Naturally, proud grandma took lots of pictures!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

I have a neighbor buddy that fights wildland fires in the summer. I know his firechief personally and several guys on the crew. I've heard them talk about the thousands of dollars worth of stuff that they've had stolen by other fire crews (personal stuff and fire equipment). Don't even tell me that firefighters are above stealing.

[jd777]

Cowarldy self-centered little toads are horribly threatened by the heroic behavior of these men. (300 of whom died in the line of duty). And so they seek to minimize their courage and maximize their flaws. They want you to believe that people who run into burning building to save people's lives( for maybe 50,000 a year) are really just petty theives.

Like: "I'm the brave one for pointing out who stole a pair of jeans". As if we might transfer our admiration to him beacuse of how smart he is. Not in this universe.

IMHO, This author ought to be horsewhiped.

[Teacher317]

Firefighters Outraged By 9/11 Looting Accusations

Unfortunately, that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

NYC firefighters and police were virtually canonized in the aftermath of the WTC collapse... but hardly had a squeaky-clean reputation before then.

Personally, I think the best thing would be to just let this small infraction go. Unfortunately, apparently some firefighters have decided to splash it all over the front pages again, thinking that all sins can be washed away for FDNY, even the ones that are pushed into the public eye, repeatedly. I don't think it will work.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

If some fire crews stole stuff, then the author is okay to report on them. But, he is acting like the vast majority of them are no better than the average petty thug. No way. In my story in #8, I should have stated that my friend's wildland fire crew wasn't getting their stuff stolen right and left. Every profession has its dirtbags, but that doesn't mean that everybody everywhere is doing it.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

How can they account for those jeans in the fire truck?

Demonize whoever catches them doing it and ruin him/her. A LOT of stupid things are going on in Federal agencies and the educational system that is beyond belief. First person who peeps is going to be ruined.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

This is ludicrous how do they know a sirefighter stole jeans is it possable for the jeans to have landed in the truck during the collapse YES IT IS

[areafiftyone]

Thank you for that sweet story. I don't believe the firemen took it but I wouldn't put it past other people who were there. There were a couple of people there who weren't supposed to be there at the time. Why don't they look into that?

[Bogey780]

Same way they accounted for 4,000 missing jews and a guy surviving an 80 story collapse.

We'll need more proof.

[supercat]

I remember reading in the immediate aftermath of the WTC collapses of thieves who donned fireman uniforms so as to get access to the scene. I wonder how much of the looting was done by actual firefighters and how much was done by imposters?

[Rodney King]

This is ludicrous how do they know a sirefighter stole jeans is it possable for the jeans to have landed in the truck during the collapse YES IT IS

ROFL

You win the "go to any length imaginable" award of the day.

What's the big deal everyone? Some firefighters undoubtedly stole some stuff. So? Does that tarnish them all? No. Is the author saying it should tarnish them all? No. It is a sad day when the truth can't be discussed at FR withour totally illogical and ridiculous arguments being made in order to deny it.

Personally, I don't care that they stole the Tourneau watches. The store owner is just mad that he didn't get to steal them and then reprot them as an insurance loss.

[jd777]

Sorry to say: Starting salary for a rookie in the FDNY is $32,724. A Captain's minimum salary is $72,248. So a few officers will get to $100,000. A few.

I'm sorry your friend lost his money.

[drjimmy]

IMHO, This author ought to be horsewhiped.
Why don't you just close your eyes, cover your ears with your hands, and hum. You'll still be just as ignorant, and no one else will get hurt.