City Fire Commissioner Sal Cassano, making good on his promise of three months ago, has begun calling firefighters who retired on a medical disability to come before the FDNY’s pension review board to determine whether their maladies still exist.
Good for him. It’s about time.
As The Post’s David Seifman reports, two retired firefighters whose cases were spotlighted by this newspaper have been summoned before the board — the first time a disability pension has been subjected to review in 35 years.
One of those whose three-quarters-pay pension is being scrutinized is John Giuffrida, who’s been getting $74,624 a year since retiring at age 35 on claimed asthma and lung ailments in 2003 — but competes in martial-arts kickboxing matches.
The other is James Kadnar, also 42, who retired in 2006 after claiming a chronic sinus condition — but recently applied to become a cop in North Carolina and underwent a “vigorous four-month training program.”
They’re not the only ones whose taxpayer-financed pensions should be getting a closer look.
There’s Neil Coplan — who isn’t even a firefighter: He was the FDNY’s chief cardiologist, yet was on course for a $95,000 lifetime disability pension because of a heart ailment (though he continues to treat patients) — until city lawyers ultimately nixed it.
And John “Johnny Lungs” McLaughlin, who — as The Post also reported — rakes in $86,000 a year while competing in marathons and triathlons.
This year alone, the city is shelling out $7.6 billion on pension costs — up from $1.4 billion in 2002. And even before 9/11, half of all firefighters were taking disability pensions.
All the more reason to start cracking down on the scams.
It’s good to see Cassano and FDNY taking action. Here’s hoping the other uniformed agencies follow suit.