D.C. firefighters surrounded the entrance to first district precinct early Tuesday morning but they weren't there for an emergency.
They were there to show support for two firefighters who surrendered to face charges in connection with a brawl in April.
LT. Sean Sinon and rookie firefighter Reden Ecleo from Engine 6 are being charged with simple assault, WRC reported.
Firefighters lined the sidewalk as the two arrived to face police. Sinon and Ecleo shook hands with a few but it was a quiet walk into the building.
A video that showed firefighters punching and kicking a man resulted in six being placed on leave. Charges against the victim were dropped.
“I think they were trying to help their lieutenant who had been assaulted,” Firefighters Local 36 President David Hoagland said. “Our members are routinely placed in some of these unsafe situations from day to day, and unfortunately, on the scenes of these emergencies, they can escalate quickly before the police have a chance to arrive to assist us."
He added that firefighters are concerned about the charges.
“[The charges are] incredibly frustrating to all of our members because everybody standing behind me thinks that this could be them tomorrow just going about the course of their duties,” he said.
