Chief Leader

The FDNY honored the 10 members who died in the last year, including three killed in the line of duty, at the Firefighters Memorial Monument in Riverside Park at West 100th St.

'Inappropriate' Remarks

Mayor Bloomberg and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta paid tribute to those who had died, but Chief Cassano devoted part of his remarks to rebutting criticism of his and Mr. Scoppetta's administration, a move the union leader called "wholly inappropriate."

"In the past couple of months, the department has been criticized by the media - and in fact by some of our own members," Chief Cassano said in this speech. "But through all this, the department has remained strong."

"We were there to honor our fallen brothers, to remember the sacrifices they made and to pay our respects to their families," Mr. Cassidy said in a phone interview. "Instead, the Chief of Department used a solemn event to make a political speech and attack those who criticized him."

At a UFA membership meeting the following day, Mr. Cassidy said, members voiced outrage at Chief Cassano's comments and said they were disrespectful to the surviving family members of the three Firefighters who died in the line of duty this past year.

'Owes Them an Apology'

"He was completely out of bounds," said Mr. Cassidy. "He certainly owes those families an apology."

Department spokesman Francis X. Gribbon said that most of the speech praised firefighters.

"I guess Steve didn't hear that part," he said.

He added that the father of fallen Firefighter Joseph Graffagnino sent an e-mail to Chief Cassano after the ceremony thanking him for his support and said that Mr. Cassidy did not represent the families. Mr. Gribbon said that he believed it was hypocritical of Mr. Cassidy to say the Chief's comments were inappropriate when just a day before the UFA president held a press conference blasting Commissioner Scoppetta and calling again for his firing or resignation.

"What about that?" Mr. Gribbon said. "That was not intentional?"

'Uncomfortable' Feeling

Thomas Eppinger, who as president of Local 3621 of District Council 37 represents Emergency Medical Service officers, said that Chief Cassano's speech, which invoked quotations from President Theodore Roosevelt, was "off color" for the occasion.

"It was weird," he said. "It was a very uncomfortable situation after that."

Mr. Cassidy and Uniformed Fire Officers Association President John J. McDonnell have been vocally critical of Chief Cassano and Mr. Scoppetta's leadership before and after the Deutsche Bank building fire, which killed Firefighters Graffagnino and Robert Beddia Aug. 18, both of whom were honored at last week's ceremony.

The department also honored Firefighter Daniel Pujdak, who died June 21 after falling four stories while fighting a fire in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. At the age of 23, with just less than two years in the department, he was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital.

'Never Forget'

"Today, we honor three extraordinary men who sacrificed their lives for the safety of strangers," said Mayor Bloomberg during the ceremony. "There is never an easy way to express the love and admiration we have for our Bravest. This day of remembrance is just one way to show you that we will never forget. We will always keep the sacrifice of your loved ones in our hearts and minds. The days and months have passed, but the pain of their loss has not subsided. Nor will it ever."

The seven other department members memorialized were Capt. Francis T. Keane, Lieut. Joseph P. Colleluori Jr., Firefighter Christopher M. Logan, Firefighter David Minerly, Firefighter William R. St. George, Emergency Medical Technician Lawrence E. Marx, and EMT Joseph Cole.