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Six New York City firefighters have been suspended and will face disciplinary action after they allegedly drove a truck to a state senator's office Friday and threatened staffers over the city's vaccine mandate for workers.
NBC New York reported that the firefighters, who were on duty, drove a ladder truck to state Senator Zellnor Myrie's office in Brooklyn. They allegedly asked where the senator lived, and told staff that they would have "blood on their hands" next week when workers will be placed on leave if they aren't vaccinated.
The news station reported that the firefighters also allegedly said that if there was a fire at Myrie's home they wouldn't respond.
In a statement provided to Newsweek, New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Commissioner Daniel Nigro condemned the firefighters' alleged behavior.
"This is a highly inappropriate act by on-duty members of this Department who should only be concerned with responding to emergencies and helping New Yorkers and not harassing an elected official and his staff," Nigro stated.
"The members in question have been immediately relieved of duty and will face disciplinary action," he added.
Myrie also criticized the firefighters' actions.
"I am outraged. One that on-duty officers who were supposed to be focused on keeping us safe and responding to emergencies would attempt to use their uniforms and their fire truck to intimidate my staff. And secondly, it is disturbing that they would approach a state elected official for a city mandate and would I think offer veiled threats about my own safety by asking where I live personally," the state senator said," he said, according to NBC New York.
City workers had until Friday evening to get at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Those who aren't vaccinated will be placed on unpaid leave starting Monday.
Some firefighters and other city workers have been protesting the vaccine mandate in recent days. On Monday, thousands of emergency workers demonstrated against the policy, blocking roads in Brooklyn.
On Wednesday, a New York City judge denied a police union's request to block the COVID vaccine mandate from going into effect.
The Associated Press reported Friday that 29 percent of firefighters, 26 percent of police, and 33 percent of sanitation workers remain unvaccinated, according to city data. Without these firefighters on duty, 20 percent of fire stations could close.
More than 1,000 city firefighters have applied for religious vaccine exemptions, and will be able to remain on the job as long as they complete weekly COVID testing, NBC New York reported.
About the writer
Xander Landen is a Newsweek weekend reporter. His focus is often U.S. politics, but he frequently covers other issues including ... Read more