When Rogue Fire Response Goes Unchecked, Accountability Must Follow

Op-Ed By: John W. McGowan, Esq./Former NYS Assemblyman District 97 and Rockland County Legislator

Since leaving the New York State Assembly last December, I’ve chosen to speak publicly only on issues of real urgency—ones that pose a direct risk to public safety or undermine the rule of law. The conduct of the Matzilei Aish Fire Safety Group, Inc. – a self-styled emergency response organization operating in Rockland County – meets both standards. This, alongside the recent decision to quietly resolve a criminal case involving one of its members without full prosecution, makes it impossible to remain silent.

While the public may not have access to every detail of the case, the facts that are known should concern us all. The individual in question was charged with reckless endangerment, stemming from actions allegedly taken during an active fire scene. These charges, to my knowledge, have never been seriously disputed. They fit a broader pattern long reported across Rockland County: that Matzilei Aish, a nonprofit unaffiliated with any sanctioned fire department or district, and composed of individuals lacking New York State firefighter certification, has been masquerading as a legitimate emergency response unit. This group has reportedly instructed residents to call them directly instead of 9-1-1 and has shown up at real emergencies, putting both the public and trained first responders at risk.

As an Assemblymember, I raised alarms about this group’s activities. After speaking with multiple fire service professionals in Rockland County, I wrote to Attorney General Letitia James in September 2024, urging her office to intervene. My request went unanswered.

And yet, despite these clear warnings, the state has failed to act. No legislation has been proposed to close gaps in the law. No charges have been aggressively pursued. And no clear message has been sent that impersonating emergency personnel and endangering lives will carry real consequences in New York.

Local officials, to their credit, have tried to fill the vacuum. County Executive Ed Day, Sheriff Lou Falco, and Director of Fire and Emergency Services Chris Kear have all spoken out against Matzilei Aish’s operations and sounded the alarm about the risks. Their leadership has been commendable, but it should not have to stand alone.

Which brings us to the recent news that the reckless endangerment case against a Matzilei Aish member will be resolved through an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal (ACD). That means the case will likely be dropped entirely if no further violations occur. For a group that has repeatedly inserted itself into life-and-death situations with no legal authority, no oversight, and no professional certification, this outcome is nothing short of alarming.

It suggests not a lack of evidence, but a lack of resolve. It signals, once again, that in Rockland County, accountability is negotiable.

The implications are profound. If we cannot enforce the law equally, and if those who endanger lives while pretending to be first responders are quietly let off the hook, we risk more than just legal inconsistency. We erode public trust. We disrespect the sacrifices of real firefighters. And we invite another tragedy.

Let us not forget Jared Lloyd, the Spring Valley firefighter who gave his life in the line of duty. The memory of his service and the frustration many still feel about the plea agreement that followed should serve as a sobering reminder of what’s at stake.

As I wrote to the Attorney General: “Our residents and firefighters have endured enough over the last few years; we cannot allow another preventable tragedy to occur.”

The failure to act against Matzilei Aish isn’t just a policy oversight, it’s a dangerous message. A message that tells our first responders their lives are expendable, and tells the public that the law is applied selectively. That message must be rejected clearly, unequivocally, and urgently.

I hope I’m wrong about what comes next. But if we’ve learned anything from recent history in Rockland County, it’s this: silence and inaction come with a cost. Too often, someone else pays it.