Ex-Prosecutor Tapped to Monitor FDNY Recruiting

Mark S. Cohen has been appointed to watch over the recrutiment, testing and hiring of new firefighters

A federal judge in New York City has appointed a former prosecutor as an independent monitor to oversee the Fire Department of New York's effort to hire minorities.

Judge Nicholas Garaufis on Wednesday selected former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District Mark S. Cohen to watch over the recruitment, testing and hiring of new firefighters.

Garaufis said in October that an independent monitor was necessary to combat persistent discrimination in FDNY hiring practices.

City attorney Georgia Pestana tells The New York Post that there is no objection to Cohen's appointment. But she says the city "does not agree that any monitor is warranted."

Nine percent of the 11,200 uniformed firefighters are black or Hispanic. Over half of the city's 8 million population belongs to a racial or ethnic minority.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us