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Monday, January 5, 2009

9/11 Still Producing FDNY Casualties

At least four of those failed tests were tied to firefighters suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder due to their work on or shortly after 9/11, the firefighters union says.


9/11 Still Producing FDNY Casualties
Firehouse.com (subscription) - USA

REUVEN BLAU
Courtesy of The New York Post


John Schroeder lost everything on 9/11 - and now it's cost him his job as well.

As a hose man for Engine Co. 10, Schroeder was one of the first firefighters to respond to both the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, reaching the 23rd floor of the north tower during the latter catastrophe.

"I saw more people die that day than anyone can imagine," he told The Post.

Afterward, he struggled to cope with the staggering loss of 55 friends and colleagues. "I turned to the drink, the whole department did," he said.

Now Schroeder, 49, is one of several scarred firefighters fighting to keep their pensions because of failed drug tests, caught between the sympathy of their colleagues and the zero-tolerance policy of the Fire Department.

Schroeder tested positive for cocaine during a random FDNY drug sweep on Oct. 24, 2004. He denies using cocaine and claims he's been sober for more than a year. His lawyers argue he's a victim of a flawed test.

The department moved to fire Schroeder through a disciplinary hearing. In a highly unusual ruling, an administrative-law judge in August 2007 recommended that the 18-year veteran be allowed to retire with dignity.

Judge Kevin Casey didn't comment on the drug-test results but suggested the FDNY allow the decorated firefighter to complete his application for a disability pension. That way, Casey said, Schroeder, who suffers from lung disease that he believes came from breathing toxic Ground Zero air, could keep his health benefits.

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2 comments:

  1. fdny is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the cold dealing with ptsd in the fire servioe. section 13 of the everyonegoeshome (registered t.m.) of the firefighter life safety initatives deals with psychological injury. The National Fallen Fire Fighter Foundation held a key meeting in Boston Dec 4th and 5th with a second to be held in January to define the "best practises" model for dealing with firefighter traumatic psycological injury. Stay tuned to firefighterveteran.com for updates.
    S. Pennington
    firefighterveteran.com
    North American Fire Fighter Veterans
    Network

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you Shannon. As usual, you're right on top of this. Keep us posted on how the next step goes. Wishing you a blessed New Year!

    ReplyDelete

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