New York's Finest Bust the Bravest
by Gail Kislevitz

In an upset, the New York Police Department beat the New York Fire Department for only the third time in history at the 25th Annual Police/Fire Race, on Saturday, April 6. For many, however, in the wake of September 11 the rivalry was secondary to the spirit of fun and camaraderie that prevailed.

According to past race director Tim McCauley (FDNY), the race was conceived when Leut. Dan Caffey (FDNY) and Curtis Dixon (NYPD) got together after work and decided to stage a friendly road race. The first race was held in Flushing Meadows Park and then moved to Central Park with the start at Tavern on the Green. This year's race drew 266 participants.

Why does the FDNY have a better record? McCauley thinks it's because they are in better shape. “The firefighters run up and down ladders all day long. Our job is physically more demanding,” he said. That may be changing, as the police got their second win in a row. They also have the numbers on their side, the police department outnumber the fire department personnel 35,000 to 8,000.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly made his comments at the start of the race: “In the wake of September 11 there is a whole new partnership between the two departments. In the light of sportsmanship and mutual respect for each other, I still expect the police to win.”

Fire Commissioner Nick Scoppetta followed up with a few choice words: “Commissioner Kelly forgot to mention the scorecard for the race, firefighters 22, police officers 2. This is a great race fueled with constructive competition, but when it really counts we are both on the same team. It is a fun event and we need a lot more of that in the light of September 11.”

Despite the goodwill and warm feelings all around, the weather didn’t seem to want to cooperate with cold and windy weather this year. In the past, the race has seen hail, snow and sleet. As one runner was overheard saying, “Next year, expect locusts.”

Rob Carlo, FDNY
Carlo has been a firefighter for 11 years. On September 11, Rob made it out but his brother Michael, also a firefighter, didn’t. “Michael always raced with me," he said. "We had a great sibling rivalry between us. I’m not in as good a shape as I usually am because I have spent every day since September 11 down at Ground Zero looking for him and all the others who didn’t make it. I thought it would be important to be here today and run in his honor. I know he is with me and I will feel him by my side when I run.”

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