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Yesterday, Fire Department Chief Peter Hayden testified in front of the City Council and said that the current plan to have the NYPD lead any emergency situation, including the handling of hazardous materials, is "bad policy" and "makes no sense." Chief Hayden's actions have been described as "startling frank" by the NY Times and a "rare move" by the NY Post, as it's unusual for such a high-ranking official to disagree openly with City Hall policy and criticize the another powerful department (Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta was quiet and said he was essentially going to follow the mayor's wishes). In fact, Chief Hayden commented about the NYPD's desire to keep power:
"There is a human behavior element here, where people don't want to share information because information is viewed as power. We see it in every level of government. The C.I.A. does not tell the F.B.I. The F.B.I. does not tell the N.Y.P.D. The N.Y.P.D. does not tell the F.D.N.Y. This is human behavior."The NY Post's analysis seems to back up the idea that Police Commissioner Kelly's clout is what has elevated the NYPD's role, and that even one emergency management chief calls him the "co-mayor." Other things Gothamist found interesting: Chief Hayden made it a point to say he owed it to the lives of firefighters lost in September 11 to speak up and that he hoped his words wouldn't damage his relationship with Mayor Bloomberg (the NY Times reports Hayden delicately saying that the Mayor was "ill-advised"), and that Police Commissioner Kelly got irritated at almost always irritating City Council Speaker (and Democratic mayoral hopeful) Gifford Miller.
The FDNY would like to share the leadership with the NYPD in these situations, but Gothamist thinks the cynics' viewpoint that they can't really share is probably right, as sad as it is. The funny thing is that when there's hazardous material suspected, it seems like the FDNY is the one to deal with it. It's doubtful much will change, but this might become an election issue.
Photographs taken by Jake Dobkin in July 2003, when anthrax was suspected downtown
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I was actually surprised that this discussion is taking place now since I thought that there was an existing MOU between the agencies. Maybe I missed something and this is an update. In any case, I hope NY doesn't have a large emergency that would have this go into affect. Too much pride and pigheadedness will cause a lot of problems.
You might be interested in my essays on the CIMS controversy, at http://cityscapethree.blogharbor.com, and www.metroblogging.com
I agree with the chief and never understood why the police ESU units are both SWAT teams and rescue teams. It just makes sense to have the FDNY doing the rescue work.
While we are on the subject has the FDNY gotten that helicopter, yet? You know the one they ahve been asking for since before 911.
“Faces of the Brave”
“Non-Profit” Tribute Artwork Project
The "Faces of the Brave" (FOTB) “Non-Profit” Tribute Artwork Project has been created as a lasting Tribute to Honor the lives of the fallen New York Emergency Services Personnel and other Heroes lost on 9-11 by putting their faces before the public. No longer will the thought of these brave men and women become a fading memory or mere statistic, there are more than 500 individual portraits to remind us of the personal sacrifice made that tragic day.
After more than 3 ½ years of Research & Development on the Tribute, Las Vegas artist Randy Soard has located each of the Surviving Family representatives (Estate Administrators) of the fallen Heroes lost on 9/11 and has invited each of them to participate in the “Faces of the Brave” Tribute Artwork Project. The artwork contains the images of 346 Firefighters (includes 3 retired FDNY), 23 Policemen (NYPD), 37 Port Authority Officers (PAPD), 16 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs-Paramedics), 3 New York State Court Officers, 2 (1 Active & 1 Retired) FBI Agents, 1 Secret Service Agent, 42 Security Officers, 11 Civilian-Volunteer Firefighters, 7 Civilian-Volunteer Fire Marshals and 20 Civilian heroes lost on 9/11.
All of the surviving families have been requested to provide one or two images of their fallen “family member” to be used in the artwork (a different image from the image(s) attached to the “Photo-Release” if they so choose). The “Final Version” of the “Faces of the Brave” artwork will “ONLY” contain images that have been legally authorized by the Estate Administrators (via a “Photo Release”). Many of the images provided to the artist by the survivors are from private collections and have never been viewed by the public.
Once the participation of the surviving families has been legally authorized and licensed, the artwork will then be printed and made available to the general public for purchase. 100% of the profits from the sale of the “Faces of the Brave” artwork will be gifted directly to the surviving families of the fallen Heroes or to the Charity, Foundation or Scholarship Funds of their choice.
The primary goal of this Project is to display the “Faces of the Brave” Artwork in public setting across the country and around the world including all Fire-Rescue Stations, Police & Paramedic-EMT Operations and Training Facilities, Educational Institutions (Schools, Universities), Hospitals and Medical Centers, Museums, Military Bases, Theaters, Transportation Terminals (Airports, Ferry, Rail, Bus, Cruise), Financial Institutions (Banks, Credit Unions and Brokerages), Municipal-County-Federal Court Houses, Sport Stadiums (College & Professional), Departments of the U.S. Government and all U.S. Embassies located World Wide. The “Faces of the Brave” artwork will also become a part of traveling and permanent public exhibits at State Fairs, Indoor Malls, Public Libraries and Building Murals dedicated to honoring those lost on 9-11.
For Additional Information, please contact us at the following:
Randy Soard
Email: RandySoard@hotmail.com
Web: Http://www.BraveFaces.com