NEW YORK CITY FIREFIGHTERS' BOSS URGES DRUG TESTING AFTER COLLISION

NEW YORK - The driver of a fire truck that crashed into another
departments truck on the way to a South Bronx fire was using cocaine
before the collision that injured more than a dozen people, the fire
commissioner said Saturday.

FDNY head Nicholas Scoppetta, in announcing the positive drug test for
fire fighter Thomas Lennon, said he would begin discussions with fire
union officials to lunch random drug testing of all uniformed
firefighters, officers and emergency workers.

" Drug use is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated,"
Scoppetta said. " This is a safety issue - for the public and our own
members. Random drug testing must be initiated for our uniformed members."

A call to the Uniformed Firefighters Association for comment was not
returned Saturday.

On Feb. 21, Lennon was driving a truck from Engine Co. 83 to a fire on
Concord Avenue in the South Bronx when the vehicle skidded and slammed
into a truck from Engine Co. 60.

Eleven firefighters, along with two civilians, suffered minor injures
in the crash at St. Mary's Street and Jackson Avenue. Fire officials
initially blamed the accident, which also damaged seven parked cars,
on wet pavement.

Per department policy, Lennon was taken for drug testing; he tested
positive for cocaine, Scoppetta said. Lennon, 41, a seven-year fire
veteran, faces suspension and administrative charges over the incident.

Lennon is currently on medical leave with injuries suffered in the accident.