Mount Vernon firefighter disability figures don't add up

[Viper 139]

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MOUNT VERNON - It was a stark statistic that helped city officials justify the emergency need to hire new firefighters.

Thirty-five of the department's 119 firefighters and officers — an astounding 29 percent, or nearly one in three —  were reportedly unavailable to work, on injury leave awaiting disability retirements

 

One problem, though. The numbers were misleading at best, wrong at worst.

 

In fact, there are actually 123 firefighters in the department. And the 35 who are "out" included eight who retired or transferred from the department last year, and others working on light duty.

 

 

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/investigations/2016/03/03/mountvernon-firefighter-disability/80987002/