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Police, Firefighters Clash Once Again;
Newtown Creek rescue attempt probed
Copyright 2003 Newsday, Inc.
Newsday (New York)
July 11, 2003 Friday QUEENS EDITION
Police and fire rescuers clashed once again this week as top specialists from both services tried to save a homeless man who had jumped into Newtown Creek on the Queens/Brooklyn border.
Firefighters said police officers with the Harbor Unit recklessly threw a grappling hook into the creek Wednesday night despite shouts from firefighters that one of their divers was in the water.
The firefighters said one of their divers, William Murphy, who was underwater, had his face mask ripped off by the rope attached to the hook and that he swallowed water from the murky creek.
The man they were trying to find was Frederick Darling, 54, a Vietnam veteran who lived at a shelter nearby on Borden Avenue that serves homeless veterans. Darling's body was recovered later.
The latest instance of the ages-old "battle of the badges" again involved Rescue 4, an elite Fire Department unit based in Woodside.
Two weeks ago, a firefighter from Rescue 4 was arrested when police objected to his presence in a Queens restaurant where a burglar had gotten trapped in a chimney.
This time, Rescue 4 had its diver in the water trying to find Darling.
A report from fire Capt. Joseph Callan said the Harbor Unit officers not only ignored firefighters' shouts that one of their divers was in the water, but also responded with a vulgarity.
"The Harbor Unit at this operation displayed no cooperation or regard for anyone else's safety, and because of this placed an FDNY member's life in danger," Callan said in a report to FDNY Chief of Operations Salvatore Cassano.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the incident involved "a very serious charge" and did not offer any information to contradict the Fire Department report.
"I didn't hear about this until late this [Thursday] morning," the police commissioner said. "I've directed a thorough investigation to go forward. I really have nothing more to say on this because we had no indication that this was anything but a well-run operation."
Kelly acknowledged the long-running feud between the departments, referring to it as "some friction."
"They're both motivated," Kelly said of the police Harbor Unit and the fire unit. "They're highly trained; they want to use their expertise in the best possible way. We have to continue to communicate that."
"They're clearly the best Fire Department in the world," Kelly said. "We have great respect for them. We have to work cooperatively and collaboratively."
Staff writers William Murphy and Sean Gardiner contributed to this story.
This will never end. Each agency needs to pick a roll.
Newtown Creek rescue attempt probed
Copyright 2003 Newsday, Inc.
Newsday (New York)
July 11, 2003 Friday QUEENS EDITION
Police and fire rescuers clashed once again this week as top specialists from both services tried to save a homeless man who had jumped into Newtown Creek on the Queens/Brooklyn border.
Firefighters said police officers with the Harbor Unit recklessly threw a grappling hook into the creek Wednesday night despite shouts from firefighters that one of their divers was in the water.
The firefighters said one of their divers, William Murphy, who was underwater, had his face mask ripped off by the rope attached to the hook and that he swallowed water from the murky creek.
The man they were trying to find was Frederick Darling, 54, a Vietnam veteran who lived at a shelter nearby on Borden Avenue that serves homeless veterans. Darling's body was recovered later.
The latest instance of the ages-old "battle of the badges" again involved Rescue 4, an elite Fire Department unit based in Woodside.
Two weeks ago, a firefighter from Rescue 4 was arrested when police objected to his presence in a Queens restaurant where a burglar had gotten trapped in a chimney.
This time, Rescue 4 had its diver in the water trying to find Darling.
A report from fire Capt. Joseph Callan said the Harbor Unit officers not only ignored firefighters' shouts that one of their divers was in the water, but also responded with a vulgarity.
"The Harbor Unit at this operation displayed no cooperation or regard for anyone else's safety, and because of this placed an FDNY member's life in danger," Callan said in a report to FDNY Chief of Operations Salvatore Cassano.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the incident involved "a very serious charge" and did not offer any information to contradict the Fire Department report.
"I didn't hear about this until late this [Thursday] morning," the police commissioner said. "I've directed a thorough investigation to go forward. I really have nothing more to say on this because we had no indication that this was anything but a well-run operation."
Kelly acknowledged the long-running feud between the departments, referring to it as "some friction."
"They're both motivated," Kelly said of the police Harbor Unit and the fire unit. "They're highly trained; they want to use their expertise in the best possible way. We have to continue to communicate that."
"They're clearly the best Fire Department in the world," Kelly said. "We have great respect for them. We have to work cooperatively and collaboratively."
Staff writers William Murphy and Sean Gardiner contributed to this story.
This will never end. Each agency needs to pick a roll.
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