UFA/UFOA Hold Press Conference Claiming FDNY Deutsche Bank Fire Cover-Up

October 15, 2007 -- The Uniformed Firefighters Association IAFF Local 94 and the Uniformed Fire Officers Association IAFF Local 854 held a joint press conference to expose the active effort by the New York City Fire Commissioner and his staff to hinder the investigations and the cloud of scandal surrounding the fatal Deutsche Bank fire that killed Local 94 fire fighters Robert Beddia and Joseph Graffagnino.

Both locals said that the current FDNY building inspection program is a failure, and recommended establishing a dedicated building inspection task force.

“More than seven weeks after the tragedy, the FDNY’s own investigators have been forbidden to examine pre-fire issues which led up to the deaths of two New York City fire fighters,” said Local 94 President Steve Cassidy, who also pointed to recent actions by top FDNY leadership to stall the investigation, including ceasing all email communication about the building inspection.

Jack McDonnell, president of Local 854, said, “It was the FDNY’s responsibility to insist that all rebuilding efforts be placed before the FDNY at every stage. FDNY leadership abdicated control to the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and did not exercise their authority.”


Watch the press conference

Read the media coverage:

Fire unions claim Deutsche Bank tragedy cover-up (Newsday)

Fire unions, FDNY fight over Deutsche Bank investigation (New York Daily News)

Unions Accuse Fire Officials of Hindering Deutsche Bank Inquiry (New York Times)