NYT- Fire Chief Who Assailed Mayor's Policy Is to Testify Before Council

[maddezmom]

~snip~
Today, it is not silence nor official rank but rather his voice that will distinguish him: he is due to appear before the City Council as the first senior official in the Bloomberg administration who has publicly criticized a policy of the mayor who appointed him.

Chief Hayden, 58, will be testifying on the city's new emergency response protocol, which he has said is "a recipe for disaster" that leaves the city no better prepared for a terrorist attack than it was on 9/11.

Last month, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg signed an executive order that, among other things, gives the Police Department charge of hazardous materials incidents caused by terrorism, or suspected of being caused by terrorism, citing the Police Department's expertise in criminal matters.

That position is expected to be presented at the hearing by Joseph Bruno, the commissioner of the Office of Emergency Management, and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly.

~snip~
more: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/09/nyregion/09fire.html

[Moderator]

1. kick to combine

[deminks]

2. NY fire chief criticizes terror response plan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York's fire chief, citing the Sept. 11 Commission's recommendation of a joint command to deal with chemical or biological incidents, said on Monday Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan to put police in charge of the initial response was "dangerous."

Peter Hayden, who commanded rescue operations at the north tower of the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack, told a city council meeting his opposition to Bloomberg's plan had nothing to do with any fire/police rivalry.

Bloomberg signed an order last month giving the police department the right of command at a hazardous material incident until it determines terrorism is not involved, when a joint police and fire command would take over.

"The agency (fire) that is responsible for saving lives at a terrorist incident and for the rest of the city is not equally responsible for command. This does not make sense," said Hayden.

<end snip>

You know, I have the greatest respect for fire, police, first responders. But, I think after 4 years, we need to figure out who is in charge in these incidents. This is not just a problem in New York, by the way.