Posted by Eric Lenkowitz and Philip Messing (165.247.13.141) on November 09, 2001 at 15:11:14:
More Firefighters To Search WTC Site
ERIC LENKOWITZ and PHILIP MESSING
NY Post Online
November 8, 2001 -- The
number of firefighters
assigned to search for
remains at ground zero will
double from 25 to 50 per
shift, a Fire Department
source said yesterday.
The increase follows the
arrests of 15 firefighters
who scuffled with police last
week as they protested a
cut in the number of Fire
Department searchers at the
World Trade Center rubble.
But the anger over the
manpower decrease lingered
yesterday, as the head of
the 250,000-member
International Association of
Fire Fighters announced that
it would postpone a
memorial service set for
Nov. 18 until Mayor-elect
Michael Bloomberg takes
office.
"We plan to hold a service
at a later date with new city
leadership that will be more
sensitive to the emotions of
all those whose loved ones
and colleagues are still
entombed at the WTC site,"
said Harold Schaitberger,
IAFF president.
Three of the 15 firefighters
charged in the melee were
arrested yesterday. Sean
Nealon, Michael DeStefano
and Edward Zeilman were
charged with criminal
trespass, and Nealon was
also charged with
third-degree assault.