A Bronx firehouse is feeling the heat after officials discovered an image of President Obama was painted on a toolbox - and then defaced with the word "hustler."If racism in the NYFD was so evident, how is it this guy has a job?
An iconic picture of the President above the word "BELIEVE" appears to have been stenciled on a large toolbox visible inside Engine 45, Ladder 58 in East Tremont.
Right across Obama's face is the word "HUSTLER" in big red letters.
And underneath the image, someone scrawled "Allah Akbar" - "God is great" in Arabic - in black ink.
Lt. Kenneth Durante refused to comment on the images when questioned at the firehouse Monday.
FDNY officials said last night they launched an internal probe after the Daily News brought the images to their attention.
"This matter is under investigation," said FDNY spokesman Jim Long.
He declined to go into detail on how long the investigation might take or what disciplinary action some of New York's Bravest could expect to face.
On an adjacent panel of the toolbox was the famous police sketch of the Unabomber and words that had been covered with black tape until only "ET ME" was visible.
The images are a direct violation of FDNY rules that prohibit firefighters from displaying vulgar or offensive material in the firehouse or on their lockers.
The president of the Vulcan Society, the organization of black firefighters, said he was disappointed that the image was on display.
But he said he was not surprised.
"Racism is alive and well in America, and the Fire Department is evidence of that," John Coombs said.
Whatever the case with this odd image of Obama and the Unabomber, it's historically incorrect. Everyone knows the Unabomber was more a kindred spirit to Al Gore.
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