From Newsday’s William Murphy :

“Fireman Ed” is g-o-i-n-g.

The city firefighter often seen hoisted on the shoulders of his brother on national television leading Jets fans in cheers of J-E-T-S is being transferred from his Manhattan firehouse after racking up unacceptable medical leave.

Edwin Anzalone, 45, of Queens, is one of 20 firefighters being transferred this week as the Fire Department tries to cuts its absence rate, which now stands at 7.53 percent.

The transfers are a thinly disguised disciplinary measure for what the department regards as abuse of medical leave and what the affected firefighters view as further disdain for their welfare by department brass.


(No point in transfering Ed, he can’t hear what you’re saying)

Chief of Operations Salvatore Cassano said in the department orders triggering the transfers that the 20 firefighters “have had a history of service connected medical leaves that indicate a detail to a less active unit would be in the members’ best interest.”

Reached at Ladder Co. 28 in the Hamilton Heights section of Manhattan yesterday morning, Anzalone said, “I have no comment.”