Entry from April 22, 2005
Rubbermen or Red Menace
"Rubbermen" or "Red Menace" are cop terms (especially television's NYPD Blue) for members of the fire department.
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/tv/nypd-blue/
Red Menace
Unofficial term for members of the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), also known as "Rubbermen", a term of affection and respect for those members.
21 September 1988, Newsday, "2 Local Heroes Remember" by Denis Hamill, City, pg. 6:
"I wouldn't trade a day of it," said Gorman. "I loved being a New York fireman. The first day on the job I knew I was nuts because as we were running into the building the roaches and rats were running out. But you stood for something important. You saved lives for a living. But today the job has changed. This business of the cops and firefighters calling each other names, arguing over emergency jurisdictions is ridiculous. Cops call us the `rubbermen.' I'm actually glad I'm not on the job anymore, as much as I miss it . . . "
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/tv/nypd-blue/
Red Menace
Unofficial term for members of the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), also known as "Rubbermen", a term of affection and respect for those members.
21 September 1988, Newsday, "2 Local Heroes Remember" by Denis Hamill, City, pg. 6:
"I wouldn't trade a day of it," said Gorman. "I loved being a New York fireman. The first day on the job I knew I was nuts because as we were running into the building the roaches and rats were running out. But you stood for something important. You saved lives for a living. But today the job has changed. This business of the cops and firefighters calling each other names, arguing over emergency jurisdictions is ridiculous. Cops call us the `rubbermen.' I'm actually glad I'm not on the job anymore, as much as I miss it . . . "
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