By EMS1 Staff
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — An EMS provider filed a lawsuit to stop his transfer from his station after a scandal involving a noose and a racist, threatening letter to a black paramedic.
NY Daily News reported that Capt. Vincent Walla was one of several EMS providers transferred from the station. He said he’s being railroaded as part of FDNY’s reaction to a hate-filled note threatening paramedic Keisha Brockington.
“My transfer likely will brand me as being involved in the threats and being a racist, subjecting me to humiliation and the appearance that somehow I am a guilty person,” Capt. Walla said.
The FDNY said no permanent transfer has been made.
“Five supervisors were temporarily reassigned due to serious incidents at Station 22 which are currently under investigation by the NYPD,” the agency said.
The scandal erupted in August when an EMT found a noose hanging in an ambulance. Sources said the noose was placed there by EMT John Thornton, who said he meant it as a prank for a colleague, to warn that the friend would be stuck in EMS forever if he didn’t start training for the firefighter exam.
Thornton reached out for help from Brockington, who referred him to a supervisor. Brockington then received the letter.
“You better watch your back when you start your car up. Nothing better than a dead n-----. Trying to get innocent people fired for a funny prank,” the letter said.
Capt. Walla, who was overseeing 67 EMTs, was lifted from the station when the story broke. He said in his lawsuit that it was unfair because he was not on duty when the noose was discovered.
FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro refused to rescind the transfer.
“We filed an injunction to have Capt. Walla remain at Station 22,” EMS Officers Union Local 3621 head Vincent Variale said. “The truth is, the FDNY botched its own investigation, and is now covering it up by removing these officers, who are all innocent.”