By Peter Hosey
I traveled from South Carolina to Brookville, Long Island, in September to attend the memorial service for a New York City first responder who was murdered in the line of duty. Inasmuch that I did not know Alison Russo-Elling personally, I would like to further explain our connection.
NYC EMS was merged with FDNY on St. Patrick’s Day 1996. There was much influx during these times and the then chief of EMS Operations thought that I should be detailed to the Borough of Queens where a new division was being formed. As the new 14 Division Chief, we had set up the first 49 Battalion EMS Station in a somewhat rudimentary trailer location on the grounds of the then-Astoria General Hospital. As a side note one of the first paramedics that was assigned there was Carlos Lillo, who would subsequently die on September 11, 2001.
Since the 49 Battalion was very close to my heart, I needed to attend the memorial service for Lieutenant Russo-Elling, who was posthumously promoted to captain by Chief of EMS Operations Lillian Bonsignore.
It was a cold, chilly damp day in New York, however around 10,000 first responders, including our law enforcement partners, gave homage to a beautiful person who was savagely murdered while on duty. Rest in external peace.
Peter Hosey retired as deputy chief of FDNY EMS Operations.
