April 29-- New Orleans firefighters gathered in protest Saturday and formally announced a vote of 'no confidence' in Fire Chief Timothy McConnell in the wake of what they call a safety issue surrounding the removal of a monument.
The Times-Picayune reports that city firefighters voted unanimously months ago, but New Orleans Firefighters Association President Nick Felton said the monument issue caused them to make the vote public in a gathering at Central Station headquarters on Decatur St.
The gathering happened three days after the union confirmed that Mayor Mitch Landrieu's administration used city firefighters to dismantle the Battle of Liberty Place monument on April 24. At issue is not the politics behind the removal of the monument, but rather the safety of firefighters.
"We are tired of (McConnell) asking us to perform tasks that we are not trained for," Felton said before offering a list of grievances that included firefighters being required to perform police work, don riot gear and violate national firefighting protection standards.
"We need new leadership, that's why we're here," Felton added. "This is just the start of whatever we need to do."
A statement issued by the union called for "immediate action to remove Chief Timothy McConnell from all aspects of the Fire Service."
Early on April 24, a work crew wearing masks, tactical helmets and flak jackets used bucket cranes to scale the Liberty Place obelisk and take it apart in sections, according to The Times-Picayune. Shortly thereafter, rumors began to swirl that firefighters were among the masked crew.
During an interview Thursday, Landrieu said firefighters, including McConnell, were on scene while the monument was removed as part of the Homeland Security Dept. to set the stage and promote public safety. No firefighter operated the heavy equipment or put riggings on the monument, Landrieu said.
"Chief McConnell and the hardworking men and women of NOFD risk their lives everyday to protect the people of New Orleans whether it is running into a burning building or supporting homeland security operations throughout the year," the mayor's office said in a statement following Saturday's gathering. "We will not be intimidated or deterred because this is the right thing to do."
