Public Employee Press

Local 3621 wins recognition for
deceased member Brendan Pearson

It took almost 10 months for the Fire Dept. to acknowledge the sudden death of Emergency Medical Service Lieut. Brendan Pearson as a line-of-duty death. The 24-year veteran assigned to Staten Island Station 23 was on the job when he suffered a hernia while lifting a defibrillator. Pearson was recovering nicely from surgery on April 23, 2005, when he suddenly collapsed and died.

Uniformed EMS Officers Local 3621 fought for the line-of-duty death designation from the FDNY even after securing benefits for the family.

“It gives recognition to the hard work of people in the Fire Department and EMS by acknowledging the death of one of their own in the performance of duty,” said Thomas Eppinger, president of the local.

The Fire Dept. confirmed that this month, Pearson’s name would be added to the memorial wall for line-of-duty deaths at department headquarters in Brooklyn. A memorial ceremony will also be held at Station 23.

Pearson’s name will also be added to the EMS National Memorial in Roanoke, Va., this spring. Local 3621 is also working with Staten Island Congress member Vito Fossella to get the family awarded the Public Safety Officer Benefit.

“My husband would have been really happy over this, because he loved his job,” said his wife of 25 years, Laura Pearson.

“He would go in no matter what, he stayed late, and he would be exhausted and still be working.”