By FireRescue1 Staff
NEW YORK — A firefighter’s claim that he was bullied and harassed at his Brooklyn firehouse is under investigation.
NY Post reported that New York’s Department of Investigation has taken over investigation into Muslim firefighter Raheem Hassan’s claims that he was tormented by colleagues since 2015. The DOI instructed the FDNY’s Bureau of Investigations and Trials to halt its internal probe, according to the report.
Hassan claimed his colleagues served his pasta sauce spiked with pork and cooked his food in bacon grease. The fates of at least two captains, four lieutenants and two firefighters remain unclear while the allegations are under investigation.
“There was always tension. He didn’t make waves, but when they started playing with his food, he complained about it to the powers that be,” an unnamed source said.
Hassan said the firehouse, dubbed “The Friendly Firehouse,” became a “toxic environment,” according to the report.
The unnamed source said “several fights” erupted between Hassan and other firefighters. On Dec. 20, Hassan, who was off-duty, called his supervisor, Lt. David Hughes.
Hughes later called police, saying that Hasan told him, “I’m going to kill the guys in the firehouse.” The firehouse was later briefly shut down.
Hassan was arrested on Dec. 27 and was charged with misdemeanor aggravated harassment.
“All I did was call my fire officer and tell him I wanted to hurt myself and the people who are hurting me,” Hassan told a detective.
The criminal case against Hassan was dropped, with the stipulation it would be sealed in six months if he stays out of trouble and continues counseling.
The FDNY didn’t suspend Hassan, but removed him from the firehouse.