FDNY Employee Charged For Packing Heat On Job

An investigator with the New York Fire Department was recently charged for allegedly bringing an unlicensed, loaded firearm to work with him, it was announced.

Department of Investigation Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn identified the defendant as 38- year-old Adrian Best of Rosedale, who works as a civilian FDNY employee with the Bureau of Candidate Investigations.

According to law enforcement sources, the DOI began its investigation on July 24 after being contacted by Fire Department officials who reported that Best allegedly brought a firearm to work at the FDNY headquarters at 9 Metrotech Center in downtown Brooklyn.

The suspect, as a member of the Bureau of Candidate Investigations, is tasked primarily to checking the backgrounds of prospective FDNY employees. He has been employed with the FDNY since January 2006 and earns an annual salary of $37,100.

Fire marshals and DOI investigators approached Best in the lobby of the Metrotech Center on July 25 and discovered in his possession a loaded 9mm pistol and a set of handcuffs. It was noted that the suspect was found carrying the firearm in a holster and was not authorized to be in possession of either item.

Investigators noted that the defendant was later found not to be licensed to carry a gun.

"DOI investigators along with Fire Marshals acted swiftly to investigate and stop a city employee from entering the workplace with an illegal and loaded handgun," Commissioner Gill Hearn said. "The charges against this defendant are serious, but the immediate response by investigators averted any potential danger. I commend the FDNY for contacting DOI about this security and safety breach."

Best was charged late Friday, July 25 with criminal possession of a weapon in the second- and fourth-degrees and possession of handcuffs, thumbcuffs or leg irons. If convicted on all charges, he could face up to 15 years in prison.

Commissioner Gill Hearn thanked FDNY Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta and the FDNY Bureau of Fire Investigations for their assistance and cooperation in this case.

This investigation was conducted by DOI's Office of the Inspector General for the Fire Department, with assistance from FDNY's Bureau of Fire Investigations. The office of Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes is prosecuting the case.

It was noted that criminal complaints are merely accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.