Editorial: FDNY Honor vs. Shaming

After Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro last week chastised those who leak allegations about firefighter performance to the media, saying they “bring dishonor to our family,” it was particularly notable that his sentiments were echoed by Uniformed Firefighters Association President Steve Cassidy.

Mr. Nigro’s departmental order, which included a promise to investigate and discipline those responsible, came in the wake of a New York Post story quoting anonymous sources who accused a black rookie firefighter of looking to avoid fighting fires. The sources said the firefighter had struggled to complete his Fire Academy training and then ducked out of battling a fire last month by claiming his air supply was low at a point when they claimed it shouldn’t have been.