BOOS FIRESTORM
FDNY rips, probes Tish jeers
FDNY brass are turning up the heat on pro-Trump firefighters who showered state Attorney General Letitia James with boos at a raucous promotion ceremony, a memo obtained by The Post reveals.
The memo, circulated Sunday, warns firefighters that department investigators are reviewing video footage of the event in Brooklyn last week to ID those behind the “grossly inappropriate” conduct — and cautioned them to keep their politics at home.
“When you’re not on duty, feel however you want about politicians,” it said. “Vote. Protest. That’s your right. But don’t do it on the job’s time, on other members’ time, or on their families’ time. Do it on your own time.”
The memo also reinforced that the FDNY Bureau of Investigations and Trials was going after the offenders — echoing an email by Chief of Department John Hodges on Saturday.
Firefighters “should understand that BITS is gathering video and identifying members that brought discredit . . . to the department,” the memo said. “They will come to HQ to be educated [on] why their behavior is unacceptable.”
The memo added that the department’s reputation with the ceremony’s host has also been damaged, and that “we may lose that venue now.”
‘Trump! Trump! Trump!’
At the ceremony Thursday at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, members of the crowd — which included the families of captains, battalion chiefs and civilians up for promotion — erupted in loud jeers as James walked to the podium.
“Oh, come on,” James told the crowd. “We’re in a house of God. First, simmer down.”
She dryly added, “Thank you for getting it out of your system.”
As James proceeded with her speech, the booing turned to chants in support of former President Donald Trump.
“Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump!” the crowd bellowed.
James last month won a $454 million civil judgment against Trump, convincing a judge that he inflated the value of his holdings to defraud banks and investors. Trump is appealing the decision. But the display at the ceremony ticked off Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, who launched an investigation to track down the offending firefighters.
Andrew Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, called the outbursts “disappointing,” but said the union will stand behind its members.
“We’re all kind of disappointed with what happened. It wasn’t a political event,” Ansbro told The Post on Sunday. “Letitia James has always been a friend of the UFA.
“Some members took the opportunity to express their beliefs,” he added. “It wasn’t the time or place to do that.”
Union support
The Uniformed Fire Officers Association — a which represents lieutenants, captains, chiefs and other ranking members — urged caution for anyone who may get grilled over the incident.
“We advise all members to follow department rules and regulations during these visits,” the message said. “However, should any member feel they are subject to an investigation . . . they should immediately notify the UFOA and request representation.”
An FDNY spokesman said last week that the investigation wasn’t about politics but rather “professionalism at an official event.”
“Nobody is hunting anyone down,” spokesman Jim Long said.