The New York Post reported that the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) chief slammed firefighters in a text message to the New York state attorney general following the March 7 booing incident.
FDNY Chief Laura Kavanagh, the first woman to hold the position, has been dealing with problems related to behavior on the part of her mostly male staff, which came to light when attendees supporting former President Donald Trump booed Democratic Attorney General Letitia James at a police department promotion ceremony. according to The New York Post reported that they obtained text messages between Kavanagh and James through a freedom of records request, which show Kavanagh's frustration over the incident and his apology to James.
FDNY Chief Laura Kavanagh slams firefighters in message to New York Attorney General Letitia James: 'You can't fix them' https://t.co/VH5Uqy8Ps3 pic.twitter.com/CpSDch6Rk5
— New York Post Metro (@nypmetro) June 30, 2024
“I should have called last night but instead of apologizing I was looking for a way to apologize for these men who did not deserve such leniency,” Kavanagh told the New York Post in a text message. “It didn't work. I'm sorry I couldn't stop them or make them right.”
The fire chief also praised James for teaching him “how to gracefully handle bullying, intimidation and a lot of booing.” James, in turn, thanked Kavanagh for his words but noted that in his 20 years as a New York City public interest activist and Brooklyn Borough Councilman, he had never faced booing.
James told Kavanagh in a text message that members of her new department were unaware of her history with the FDNY. “We have a job to do and I'm prepared to put in the hours necessary. This was the first time I've ever been booed, by the way,” she told Kavanagh, according to the New York Post. (RELATED: 'Help Me Up': FDNY Firefighter Leaves Courthouse for Pizza, Tells Trump He Needs Him to Win Election
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 2: New York State Attorney General Letitia James C. speaks during the Israel Day Parade in New York City on June 2, 2024. This year's parade is the first since the October 7, 2023 events in Israel and focuses on the hostages who remain held by Hamas. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
As previously reported, Kavanagh vowed to “go after” pro-Trump officers who booed James and yelled “Trump!” during the department's promotion ceremony. FDNY Chief John Hodges notified officers in an email that the department's Investigations Bureau would be investigating who joined in the chanting directed at James during the ceremony. according to In the New York Post.
The Daily Caller has reached out to the fire chief and Attorney General Letitia James' offices for comment but has not yet heard back.
