FDNY chief John Hodges takes fall after The Post exposes Laura Kavanagh declaring department will 'hunt down' NY AG Letitia James hecklers
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A top FDNY chief is taking the fall over a Post report exposing how Commissioner Laura Kavanagh planned to "hunt down" firefighters and other stafferswho mercilessly booed New York Attorney General Letitia James during a department promotion ceremony.
In an email Tuesday to battalion chiefs, Chief of Department John Hodges backed off his prior internal announcement, admitting his use of the term "hunt'" was "a poor choice of words."
"It was not meant to be taken literally and was never uttered by anyone on the executive staff," he wrote. "Specifically, there was not, and is not, an investigation into members booing."
4Hodges backed off his prior internal announcement in an email to battalion chiefs this week. Paul Martinka4During the March 7 FDNY promotion ceremony at a Brooklyn church, James urged hecklers to "simmer down." NY Post
Hodges' March 9 email to FDNY deputy chiefs warned of a probe by the department's Bureau of Investigation and Trials, BITS, to identify which employees booed James — and chanted "Trump!" — when James took the podium at a promotion ceremony held two days before at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn.
"I have been told by the commissioner it will be better for them if they come forward and we don't have to hunt them down," wrote Hodges, warning that BITS has video of the audience hissing at James.
"They will come to headquarters to be educated why their behavior is unacceptable," the email read.
Elected officials, union leaders and civil rights lawyers immediately ripped the directive as something seen in Communist China, and that it would be unconstitutional and violate free-speech laws.
4The FDNY had claimed it was prepared to use available video to track down who booed James. BRIGITTE STELZER
Pam Bondi, a former special advisor to ex-President Donald Trump, sent Kavanagh a letter Tuesday demanding she end the "political witch hunt."
The Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute think tank, whose litigation center she now heads, is "prepared" to provide legal aid to FDNY staffers "adversely affected by your unlawful actions," she warned.
In his Tuesday email, Hodges now claimed the booing was never the issue.
Instead, "there were allegations of other violations of department regulations" at the ceremony that need resolving, wrote Hodges, without being specific.
"We are reviewing those accusations and talking to our membership about appropriate behavior," Hodges added. "[The event] was in a church in which we were guests. I'd like to remind our members that their behavior matters, both in uniform and not in uniform."
On Friday, the FDNY would not explain the "other violations" and "accusations."
The department also refused to say how many firefighters or others at the ceremony, if any, had come forward as requested or been disciplined in any way.
"FDNY leadership is having ongoing conversations with our members about decorum during department events to ensure we are upholding the core values that make the FDNY the greatest fire department in the world," said spokeswoman Amanda Farinacci. "Being a NYC firefighter is an honor and we will continue to impress upon our members that their actions impact everyone who wears the uniform."
4Letitia James, John Hodges and Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh (sitting in front) during the promotion ceremony. BRIGITTE STELZER
She added, "At no point has there been an investigation into members booing," but did not explain the initial communication warning of just that.
Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Queens), who chairs the committee on fire and emergency management, said she believes the FDNY "pulled back" on the investigation because FDNY leaders are now embarrassed over the outcry.
"Politicians are going to get booed - that's part of the game," she said. "The FDNY shouldn't be in the business of shielding politicians from criticism, and that statement should never have been made in the first place."
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This is the "democracy" that democrats want you to vote for.
First thing these assholes do is to try to limit freedom of speech and attempt to punish and reeducate these courageous first responders who lost over 343 members in one day on 9/11. 23 police officers and 37 Port Authority officers were also killed.
I think this tendency to default to Marxist/Commie tactics has become part of many leftists' DNA thanks to being raised by ultra-liberal parents and indoctrinated by socialist professors in college.
Kinda scary, but not uncommon in Democrat ranks. And they have the temerity to whine about Trump destroying democracy....
The choice is clear for the voters in November.
it sure is. vote the maga afflicted out of office on 11/5, or learn to accept their vile stench every day afterwards.
Vote Democrat and they will complete the transformation of our country into a more woke, broke, and dumber version of China.
How exactly have "they" tried to limit freedom of speech? By expressing a desire to observe standards of decorum?
What in the world does 9/11/2001 have to do with a graduation ceremony in 2024?
Of course the rag that is The Post had a disparaging word or 2000 about Kavanaugh
When it was FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens who used the word " hunt " in an email. To wit:
I am sure that they are all quivering in their bathrooms afraid to answer the door.
It is not clear from either of The Post's articles whether or not she actually used the word " hunt ." In fact, from the reportage surrounding the event, it does not appear that she did. So the whole headline " Top FDNY chief takes fall for commish declaring department will ‘hunt down’ NY AG Letitia James hecklers " is wrong, because it was John Hodgens who made the statement to begin with.
So, In other words, this is a tempest in a teapot. But I really did not expect anything else.
Wow, that is a lot to unpack in a brief rebuttal.... First, it is a strawman argument because you define all liberals as Marxist/Commie's, and I am not really sure it is possible to bake anything into the DNA, and the assumption is that all liberals are unthinking automatons who do exactly as their parents/teachers/counselors would have them. You have had children?
Also look to who voted up that nonsense. They agree with - whatever it is that he said - they don't even know.
lol
So the Chief wanted them to handle themselves like gentlemen, oh the horror of it, and in a church no less. She was drowned out with chants of ''Trump''.....Classy for sure. /s
Your support of this hateful, vindictive, and misguided woman is not unexpected.
Your description of her as "hateful, vindictive and misguided" is pure projection.
Thanks for your opinion. Have a nice day.
You let him off easy.
Decorum has lost its way in the Trumpian fever dream.
Decorum, class, decency? The former 'president' and his cult have no clue when it comes to these things.
BINGO!
That's the truth.
That is some case of projection that you have, Greg. I'm relieved that it's not unexpected since I don't want you to shit your pants reading something that is a shock to you.
Cheers.
They broke department regulations so now you have to pay the price for doing something so stupid. That how life is, take responsibility for you immature actions.
Except the article doesn't show what department regulations were broken. All it does is sound like they are trying to walk back an error while still trying to maintain they did nothing wrong. If you know of what regulations were broken, why not post that so a proper discussion can be had. Without additional knowledge, all we really have here is partisan talking points.
Do you mean John Hodges since apparently Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh and the attending fire fighters aren’t paying a price.
The FDNY had claimed it was prepared to use available video to track down who booed James.
That progressives support imposing a police state to track down and punish people for dissenting from their ideology is the least surprising thing ever. They look at the CCP and feel nothing but jealousy.
Freedom of speech seems to be limited by some to those who do not heckle or disparage the members of a specific group or political party
While the Shouts of "Trump" are certainly not something a most people want to hear, the people have the right to heckle, disparage even ridicule the AG
I am supportive of the cases brought against Trump needing to be heard in court (and more rapidly than they are progressing), but the opposition has the right to question the motivation of the prosecutors..
Their motivation is to bring someone who is obviously guilty of all counts against it to justice.
That is an admirable motivation and opinion held by many people and I respect it, but the fact that some people disagree and wish to express their disagreement is also a valid position and opinion which I also respect.
We cannot suppress or limit free speech simply because we dislike the message which is what the chief seems to be trying to do in this case.
If the AG of NY does not want to face disagreement or public condemnation of her actions, I am afraid she is in the wrong position - it comes with the job.
They were NY’s Bravest on 11 Sep.
The AG enjoyed freedom of speech during her campaign, “I’m running for attorney general because I will never be afraid to challenge this illegitimate president when our fundamental rights are at stake.”
They should have had a speaker the firefighters respected. This was to honor firefighters, not be a photo op for a politician.
Excellent point!