In Deutsche Bank Probe
Fire Unions Charge Scoppetta Cover-Up

By ARI PAUL

The leaders of both firefighter unions redoubled their attack on Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta Oct. 9, alleging that he is covering up evidence of his failed leadership during and after the Deutsche Bank Building blaze in which two firefighters died.

The Chief-Leader/Michel Friang 'NO CONFIDENCE': Uniformed Firefighters Association President Steve Cassidy Oct. 9 stepped up his criticism of Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta's leadership before and after the August Deutsche Bank Building fire. At right is Uniformed Fire Officers Association President John J. McDonnell.

"It seems clear to me that there is an on-going effort to withhold evidence from the public, from the firefighters and to cover up their actions," Uniformed Firefighters Association President Steve Cassidy told reporters during a joint press conference with the Uniformed Fire Officers Association. "I think the key here is, in light of the fact that Firefighters and fire officers have no confidence in the leadership of not only the Fire Commissioner but the top commanders now, that it's imperative that there be a change. That'll be up to the Mayor what's done."

NICHOLAS SCOPPETTA: Still has Mayor's support.

Told to Clam Up?

Mr. Cassidy and UFOA President John J. McDonnell pointed specifically to a verbal directive they claimed Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano delivered to Chiefs at a staff meeting putting a moratorium on e-mails concerning the fire.

"The staff Chiefs themselves have been told by the Chief of Department to cease all communication via e-mail regarding any correspondence for the Deutsche Bank," Mr. McDonnell said. "This message was also echoed by the Manhattan Borough Commander to all Battalion Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs in the Borough of Manhattan."

The union presidents saw this as an attempt to cover up the fact that the department failed to inspect the building, which was being demolished, and did not come up with a special fire plan for the building despite a then-Battalion Chief's repeated calls to do so.

During a press event at Rockefeller Plaza Oct. 9, Mr. Scoppetta denied the existence of a directive about e-mails.

'Believe He's Lying'

"When the District Attorney subpoenas top staff and puts them under oath, then we'll know the truth," Mr. Cassidy said. "We were not at the meeting, but we've spoken to people who were at the meeting and the answer is we believe he's lying, yes."

Since the Aug. 18 fire that killed Firefighters Robert Beddia and Joseph Graffagnino, Mr. Cassidy has called for vigorous and independent investigations. He has called for Mr. Scoppetta to be fired or to resign, holding him culpable for not ordering inspections of the building, which would have resulted in the discovery of the non-functioning standpipe or the other Fire Code violations that led to the two deaths.

Mayor Bloomberg defended his Fire Commissioner, telling reporters, "You can rest assured that Nick Scoppetta will be our Fire Commissioner from now for the next 812-odd days, and if I ever saw a campaign to ensure that he stays employed, this is part of it."

Mr. McDonnell has also been critical of both Chief Cassano and Mr. Scoppetta since three officers were relieved of duty and reassigned to department headquarters after the Deutsche Bank building fire, a move he called premature and one that unfairly tarnished the officers' reputations.

Both union leaders have hailed the Manhattan DA's decision to investigate the Deutsche Bank building fire in addition to the State Attorney General's probe.

"However, this may take some time, and in the timeframe that the ADA comes down with indictments, the morale of this department is being affected," Mr. McDonnell said.