The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) is investigating members who reportedly booed New York State Attorney General Letitia James and chanted former President Donald Trump's name during a promotion ceremony last week. The incident, which has drawn criticism from the Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA), a major firefighter union in the city, has prompted an internal investigation to identify those who participated in the disruptive behavior.
The ceremony, held to promote the FDNY's new chaplain, Pamela Holmes, was marred by boos and chants of "Trump" when James, a friend of Holmes', took the stage to deliver a speech. According to materials allegedly provided to the Viral News NYC account on X (formerly Twitter), the UFOA chastised members for their actions, deeming them inappropriate given the circumstances.
"Beginning today, deputy chiefs will visit each company in attendance to discuss the events and offer members the opportunity to come forward," one of the messages read. "Additionally, they may make members aware that the Department is in possession of video footage of the event."
The New York Post has verified the existence of the documents, which outline the union's reasons for taking action following the ceremony. The chants and boos were deemed "grossly inappropriate," and the union emphasized that "protesting, heckling, or booing anyone at a ceremony is simply unacceptable." The union acknowledged that members are entitled to their political beliefs but stressed that such conduct was not appropriate toward James, as the ceremony was not a political event and the attorney general was not delivering a political speech.
The behavior, according to the documents, reflected poorly on the union's members and strained its relationship with James's office, potentially jeopardizing their ability to use the same venue for future ceremonies.
"We want members to come forward," the document concluded, instructing leaders on the next steps. "They will come to HQ to be educated why their behavior is unacceptable."
In a statement to Newsweek, an FDNY spokesperson confirmed the investigation and emphasized that it was a matter of professionalism, not politics. "Nobody is hunting anyone down," the spokesperson said. "We're looking into those who clearly broke department regulations. It has nothing to do with politics. It's about professionalism at an official event held in a house of worship."
The incident comes in the wake of James's recent investigation into former President Donald Trump and his associates, which alleged that they had overstated Trump's net worth and the value of some of his assets over the course of years to secure more favorable business loans. In September, Judge Arthur Engoron found the parties involved liable for a pattern of fraud, and in February, Trump was ordered to pay approximately $355 million in damages, amounting to around $450 million after pre-judgment interest.
Trump has maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings, accusing prosecutors of attempting to undermine his electoral prospects in the 2024 presidential election. Some of his supporters have echoed his discontent, as evidenced by the chants and boos directed at James during the FDNY ceremony.
As the investigation into the incident continues, the FDNY and the firefighters union remain adamant that the behavior displayed at the ceremony was unacceptable and that those responsible will face consequences. The incident has highlighted the need for professionalism and respect during official events, regardless of personal political beliefs, and has underscored the importance of maintaining positive relationships between public officials and the organizations they serve.
