The picture above has Firefighter Jack Slivinski in a bit of trouble with Philadelphia Fire Department Commissioner Lloyd Ayers. Commissioner Ayers told Philadelphia Daily News reporter David Gambacorta, "We get letters from children. They look up to us. We cannot allow them to be showing nipples in photographs of Philadelphia firefighters."
According to the article, Firefighter Slivinski has been removed from his assignment to Engine 1 and is losing OT money while his role in a charity calendar is being investigated. New York photographer Katherine Kostreva came to Philly last week just to shoot Slivinski in front of the Logan Circle fountain. He is one of a dozen firefighters from around the country who are posing for this charity calendar. Bill Gault, who is president of IAFF Local 22, wanted Philadelphia's share to go to spouses of local firefighters.
But that has now become a problem. From Gambacorta's article:
The commissioner said he had good reason to be fuming at Slivinski and Local 22.
For one thing, Ayers said, the department has long been opposed to its members posing for "beefcake calendars."
"We don't sell sex, we sell safety.," Ayers said. "That's been our mantra for the longest time."
The article says the policy of the department is permission must be granted by supervisors before posing for outside publications. Gault admits he screwed up by not running it by Ayers, but says everyone's intentions were good ones. Photographer Kostreva agrees and added, "I think the commissioner is just overreacting."
Also on STATter911 …
- UPDATE – Audio from Philadelphia house fire with rescues. Three firefighters & four civilians hurt. Lt. critical but stable. – February 5, 2012
- Raw video: Four-alarm Philly fire with multiple collapses. Warehouse stored equipment for famed Mummers parade. – December 11, 2012
- UPDATED: Philadephia Fire Department Capt. Michael Goodwin, Ladder 27, killed in collapse at fabric shop. Firefighter Andrew Godlewski burned trying to save captain. Watch press conference. – April 6, 2013
- Handling the bad news: Estero, Florida firefighters say chief ordered them to leave fire engine & serve alcohol, topless at private fundraiser. Fire commission extends stories life with vague answers. – December 20, 2011
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That firefighter should be wearing NFPA approved Kevlar pasties, with a minimum 1/2" wide reflective triple trim. I believe leather tossles are an NFPA option but they make the pasties much more effective. My God, why would any firefighter have their picture taken without them? This is a dangerous job we do. I hope no one ever experiences 2nd degree sunburn to a nipple.
Thanks for keeping abreast of this isse, Dave.
And is it time for a topless fire bloggers calendar? Today’s lenses are pretty resistant to breaking, you know.
Only a boob would write that Legeros.
For the commish to be selling safety is sure is doing a great job of shutting companies down!
Doing something for charity is bad, but this is OK???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsJPEzYZF64
The commish is just jealous cause his nips are prolly sagging to his knees like an old lady!!!
Get a life commish, worry about something more pressing, like keeping the firefighters safe, staffing levels up and the citizens happy.
Seems a lot of Fire Chiefs nationwide have lost sight as to why we are here….I agree, there are certain things they need to say no to, but this was going to a great cause. Furthermore, the Firefighter calendars have been around for at least two decades with both male and female firefighters…..
This is a hypocritical statement by Ayers, if there ever was one. This is from a fat,out of shape poor excuse of a leader of the PFD. After the damage he has done to the safety of the City of Brotherly, he is the antithesis of the definition. And besides, the proceeds are going to a good cause.
If this was only typical of the wave of US fire service leadership selling the illusion of customer /taxpayer courting, but is actually servile nonsense and self-righteousness about how to run a Department in the face of much more important issues.
Sometime, when the department is up against it,
And the breaks are beating the brothers,
Tell them go out there with all they got,
And win just one for the Nipper…
With all the BS going on in the world right now….this is what Ayers finds important, and of course promoting a bookstore that sells smut (Youtube video)…..I'm sure Philadelphia is truly proud of you MR AYERS! The fact that firefighter Slivinski was doing it for a charitable cause is completely overlooked…….SHAME ON YOU LLOYD AYERS!……You are the disgrace….not Jack Slivinski.
I could see if FF Silviniski were standing in front of a PFD Station and Engine wearing turnout pants and holding his helmet, but this? He's standing in front of a fountain.
With that has transpired in Philly over the last year with station closures and staffing reductions, you would think that the Fire Chief had other FD related problems to address than this issue.
Consider if he were featured on the cover of a Body Builders Magazine. Would this also be in violation of policy?
What a hypocrite! He had no problem endorsing “Black & Noble” while wearing his city uniform?
OK, so this guy is getting his mug videoed, in uniform, in what appears to be a porn shop; but it isn't OK for a fireman to get his pic taken in front of a fountain, while not wearing a shirt. Does that summarize this pretty well?
Sorry Philly, you guys are totally screwed.
Who did Ayers have to contact to get permission to endorse "Black & Noble"? Come on, it's for charity for the families of our fire fighting HEROES!
Dave, it’s a good thing it wasn’t a victim photographed in such a state.
There’s a little known law related to protecting medical record privacy of topless patients. It’s called… NIPPA.
Sorry.
Check out what Ayers did and he wasn't even repremanded over it,,,
http://supportyourlocalgunfighter.com/2010/07/philly-fire-commissioner-ayers-wtf/
I hope the commissioner can't sleep now….Jack was a beautiful soul, thinking of others first and foremost.. As far as I'm concerned his blood is on that Phily Commissioners hands. Dispicable behavior from a politician…imagine that. Phily residents….you know what to do come election time !!!!