(New York-WABC, January 6, 2004) -- Six firefighters, including a captain, have all been reassigned and given desk duty for their involvement in a fight New Years Eve. It broke at a firehouse on Staten Island leaving one firefighter in critical condition.
The shakeup in the wake of that brutal and embarrassing attack inside Ladder Company 76 began when Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta reassigned six men. The captain was reassigned along with three lieutenants. They were all reassigned to desk duty at fire department headquarters.
Scoppetta described the men as crucial and essential into the investigation of a possible cover up inside the assault at Ladder Company 76.
Huddled around the bed on the fifth floor of Staten Island University Hospital is a vigil held day and night by family and firefighters for Robert Walsh. He is among the city's bravest, who bravely now struggles for life even as the investigation into his assault continues.
Nicholas Scoppetta, FDNY: "We think this is a very serious matter. It is pretty outrageous that such conduct could have taken place in the fire department and we are concerned that there were conflicting statements that have to be investigated. I think this is exactly what is happening and it is exactly what should be happening."
Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta has announced the reassignment of six men who were in Ladder company 76 on New Years Eve when Walsh was assaulted, including a captain and three lieutenants as the probe focuses now not on the assault, but on a possible cover up after the assault.
Scoppetta: "I still think we are talking about people covering up criminal activity here. We are talking about people making inconsistent statements. Maybe not acting in the way I would have liked to see them act."
Forty-one year old firefighter Michael Silvestri has been charged with the assault that sent Walsh to the hospital with multiple facial fractures that were so extensive doctors had to induce a coma just to save his life.
In the wake of that, officials say not everyone who was questioned after the incident answered honestly.
Scoppetta: "I am disappointed. We are determined to get to the bottom of this and the only way to do that is to have a complete and thorough investigation."
The transfers take effect immediately. There are four investigations going on at the same time into this incident. They are expected to take several weeks.
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