Leaders of the New York City Fire Department have extinguished prospects for a "hunt" for rank-and-file members who jeered the Empire State's Attorney General Letitia James when she took the stage at a ceremony last week.
"At no point has there been an investigation into members booing," an FDNY spokesperson told Fox News Wednesday, appearing to contradict reports of an internal email from brass that generated half a week of bad press for the department.
FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens handed down a fiery list of talking points last week, according to the New York Post, after some members booed James and chanted "Trump! Trump! Trump!" as she took the stage during a promotion ceremony at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn.
The behavior was "unacceptable," and members who appeared on video from the event would reportedly be investigated internally.
"BITS is investigating this, so they will figure out who the members are," Hodgens was said to have warned in an email to high-ranking FDNY officials Friday. "I recommend they come forward. 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."
BITS refers to the department's Bureau of Investigation and Trials. Hodgens noted that there was "clear video" of the event and that BITS would contact people who declined to come forward.
The purported persecution fired up current and former members of the department's rank and file, as well as the public.
"I think they were making a mountain out of a mole hill," said Staten Island attorney Louis Gelormino, who along with partner Mark Fonte, of F&G Legal Group, had offered to represent any firefighters under departmental investigation pro bono.
"Let's put this into perspective: It was a smattering of boos when Letitia James took the stage. It wasn't a real outpouring. It was a smattering at best. And then it was about 15 or 20 seconds of Trump chants. That's it."
"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 department further softened its language Wednesday.
"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," a spokesperson told Fox News. "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."
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