The Port Authority says it fired two George Washington Bridge guards caught napping on the job by CLIFFVIEWPILOT.COM. One of the workers was caught dozing twice Monday -- the first time during rush hour and the second around 10:15 a.m., when our Joey Lepore photographed him. "I didn't even zoom in," Lepore said. "I walked right up to the window."
It wasn't the first time: At the height of the Aug. 5 morning rush, another guard was photographed nodded out in the west guard booth on the New Jersey side. "And that was the THIRD time I'd seen him sleeping," Lepore said.
Lepore, who is also a part-time magician, is about to publish a book on bicycle commuter safety. But he had safety of a different kind in mind when he came upon the "breaking snooze" story during his daily ride to Central Park before work this morning.
10:15 a.m. Aug. 31 GWB west booth, north side
"I saw him nodded out on my way over to the city and then again on my way back," Lepore said. "Enough is enough!"
"I really hate doing this," he said. "But this isn't right."
The early photos were taken after Lepore said he spoke to one of the guards. "I said to him, 'Please just stay awake. I'm not asking too much."
"I saw him sleeping again about two weeks later (Aug. 5)," he said. "And that was the THIRD time I'd seen him. So I took the pictures.
"It just got to me today."
Bridges and tunnels remain a prime target for terrorists in the aftermath of 9/11, authorities have said.
At one point, the Port Authority -- which operates the bridge -- had even restricted photography there. Those rules have since been relaxed. In 2005 and 2006, the agency installed cylindrical bomb shields the section of the bridge's suspension cables closest to the deck.
More than 105 million vehicles crossed the George Washington Bridge in 2008, according to the agency, making it one of the busiest spans in the world.
"The two guards have been fired by the security contractor, FJC Security," the agency said in a statement released at 5:15 p.m.
"The Port Authority takes the safety of its passengers and facilities very serious and has spent more than $4 billion dollars on security since 9/11," the agency said in its response to CLIFFVIEWPILOT.COM's findings. "The Port Authority welcomes the public's vigilance on matters of safety and security and we encourage our customers to contact us if they encounter anything out of the ordinary.
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Keep Joe the Plumber: We'll take Joey the hero
[NOTE: All photos and text in this story are the property of CLIFFVIEWPILOT LLC. NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION.]
10:15 a.m. Aug. 31 GWB west booth, north side
7:15 a.m. Aug. 5 south side west guard booth
7:15 a.m. Aug. 5 south side west guard booth
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Gina Gaffney
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... Holy crap! I could feel bad for someone getting into trouble at the job, but this is too important for someone to be sleeping on the job! Geez! |
Lorraine
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... Joey Lepore did this the right way. He has such a big heart and didn't want to get anyone in trouble, so he spoke to these people and asked that they not sleep on the job any more. He was concerned for people's safety. They were given chances. Joey never wants to hurt anyone and he waited. He knows he couldn't stand by and let this continue, He may very well be a hero. He may have saved people's lives. I'm very proud of Joey and of Cliffview Pilot for beaking this story! |
MaryAnn P
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... Glad they were fired! They should not be sleeping on the job when our security depends on them! |
Gina Gaffney
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... Just read your update. I agree that they needed to be fired. Joey, I like your style. Great job, guys! |
Bill Hughes
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No Surprise! The Port Authority bus terminals are also at risk. Over the years of commuting through the terminal at the Lincoln Tunnel, I often see police officers at their posts reading newspapers. A stop at the police station in the building yields a very cold response from the desk officer and long waits to file complaints. |
Frank Williams
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... It is a question of public safety, absolutely. But what is the real issue here? How much does the Port Authority pay the men in these booths? Enough to live on with having to work a second or third job? How much has the Port Authority invested in proper vetting and training? What will the Port Authority do to guarantee the next guard isn't an overworked, underpaid hourly journeyman just trying to make ends meet? If this issue is a matter of public safety, these are the real questions. I would hope our intrepid reporter follows these issues to enlighten us to the real problem at the heart of this story. Getting a sleeping worker fired is one thing, and I guess there are some empty congratulations to be had for it, but what then? What really has been accomplished? And the real question is this: the next time taxes go up to cover these public services, the next time train fares and bridge tolls are raised, are we going be remember the sleeping guard that is such a public hazard, or will the standard bitch-and-moan ring out again over the money being taken from our to pay a guy to sit in a booth. How important will it be then? |
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mike koz
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... I worked at the GWB for almost 3 months earlier this year. These guards make $13.11 an hour and are in the a 3x5 booth by themselves for 8 hours, minus the 50 minute break that they get. These booths are old, falling apart, and when i worked there, approximately 1/3 of them were without working air conditioning units. Although I agree that sleeping on the job is COMPLETELY UNJUSTIFIED, I can see how it happens. I personally never did it, but can see how it is possible. At all times, either the north or south walkway is closed. If you are on the closed side, you have no human contact for 8 hours. I used to personally bring a small radio to keep myself awake and sane. I have a bachelors' degree in criminal justice and am still young and living at home so I could afford to live on the $13.11 an hour, but many of these guards hold second full time jobs. After my short stay with the company, I had to leave and find a new job. It gets extremely boring and lonely in these booths. Some guards do fall asleep, but for the most part, they go above and beyond their assigned duties. As mentioned, I am not trying to justify the actions of these guards, just trying to enlighten the general public on some of the behind the scenes info. It is sad that a few bad seeds can ruin and tarnish the reputation of an otherwise great work force. Hope this helps. |
Ivy
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At least blur their faces Dude,at least blur their faces. No need to humiliate them further than they already had. |
Lyle
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... Ivy, the photographer didn't humiliate them, the guards humiliated themselves. As far as Pay, contrary to some assertions these are jobs with benefits. And the ONLY responsibility is to be awake. no lifting, no guns, you just call in if you see something. If you can't be alert on the job don't take the job and don't rip off the taxpayer by taking the money. My job is monotonous, I would be fired if I slept through it.. |
Susan
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... I tried posting this comment in response to Mr. DeMarco's recent editorial about Joey Lepore and the GWB story but it seems the article was removed minutes ago. I am posting it here instead. "A selfless act as a human being and a citizen?" A "Joey Lepore Day"? My goodness! Such hyperbole! Let me start by saying I agree that Mr. Lepore did the right thing by reporting what he saw, but to laud him as a hero is going overboard. What exactly was selfless about what he did? Did he risk his own life and safety running into a burning building? Did he jump in front of a car to stop it from hitting a child? Those are selfless acts. Taking photos of sleeping guards on the GWB and then giving them to a website is *not* a selfless act. It's an act, yes, but it's neither selfless or heroic. Lepore did what he thought was right, two guys got fired, and a lot of noise was made about the story. He is a good citizen, not a demigod like this site is making him out to be. I imagine he must be mortified by the way he is being hyped up here. Personally, I think Mr. DeMarco is using him to promote his own agenda, namely getting publicity for himself and this website. DeMarco needs to cut back on the hyperbole. I think the incessant crowing and gloating is what is causing the backlash against Joey Lepore. One last thing...The bottom line? The two men should not be have been sleeping on the job, however they are not, as this site claims, "on the front lines of terror." (More hyperbole.) Our troops in Iraq are on the front lines of terror. Do you you really think the US government doesn't have its own "eyes" on our bridges? It's highly unlikely the government would entrust our safety to two guards--not police officers, not FBI agents, or anti-terrorist experts, mind you, but two unarmed guards who, at best, received three weeks of training. |
cyphe thomas
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... being a a 11yr veteran of security i too understand the importance of security i understand in a blink of and eye terrorist can hit all of us causing damage to u or any thing standing in it way so its nature for one to be concern about the public safety i personally feel in you out there may agree or disagree that was clearly not an heroic act that was an act of humiliation an publicity i too agree that if his intentions was safety of we the people and himself then i and everyone else here on this site wouldn't be here its clear that this guy was tired of riding his bike across the bridge everyday and need to make a few dollars so he took these two guys lively hood from them with hope to buy a new car buy sell the story to CNN a true hero is not only concern with themselves a true hero would consider another person feelings i don't excuse what these officer did at the same time everyone has there on reasons for the work that fjc security staff puts 24/7 days a week i feel more credit should be given its time like this that make me say if more people talk about and actually pay attention too the good things as we security officer do everyday such as risking our lives dealing with hundred and thousand of people day in and day out making sure the employee and the public are safe dealing with the media and the criticism they would know that its not the owner of the company that create the safe environment for the public its the security that makes it work i say all this to say sometimes people work so hard they take extreme measure to find the bad in people that they look past the good i will remain anonymous i need my job |
Joe Lepore
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... One last word about this. 1) I AGREE with Susan - I am NOT a hero and for most of my life have been a complete ZERO. I told my friends that if they used the H word to describe me, I would delete them from my friends list. 2) Cyphe Thomas. I NEVER sold the pictures, was paid for an interview and would NOT allow the interviewers to mention my business, book or web site. My only reason for taking the pictures was because I have seen guards sleeping more than once. I was concerned for the safety of EVERYBODY who crosses the bridge, as well as all those who work on the bridge INCLUDING the sleeping guards. The pain I feel knowing I got two guys fired is TREMENDOUS. It's hard for me to sleep and I pray everyday for them and their family, I also pray that they will forgive me for what I did. I ALWAYS look for the GOOD in people. The first time I took pictures, I spoke to the guard and HE assured me it wouldn't happen again. But it DID happen again, as a matter of fact, it happened two more times between 8/5 and 8/31. So on 8/31 I said enough is enough when I saw yet ANOTHER guard sleeping. I ask for forgiveness. I pray for the guards, but I also need your prayers... What would you have done? That's my last comment on this. May God bless you. |
Joe Lepore
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... Oh (in Columbo voice) one more thing...I forgot to mention; I called the security company TWICE last Thursday and made a personal plea for them to reinstate the guys job back. I have not heard back. |
Lyle
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... Susan has it wrong when she says these Bridge guards are not on the front lines of terror. The guards are more so than troops in Iraq. Indeed they are paid MORE from homeland security earmarks than the troops in Iraq. We have four times as many bridge and tunnel guards becasue of the 911 attacks. The company the guards come from has grown several fold on the huge increases in homeland security. They are a homeland security contractor. The guards ARE on the front lines of terror. They have their jobs because of the terrorism budgets. The front line of terrorist is not in Iraq, it is at the GWB (did you forget 9/11 Susan?). |
inescha
said:
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... Do you really think the company is going to hire these guys back? They have been humiliated...I wish you would have put the same amount of energy into contacted them the first time instead of taking it to the media...I actually met one of the guys.. really humble...when I heard what his daily schedule was like.. I gave him applauded...His life consist of work and church.. If you are reading this Mr. GWB keep your head up.. People will judge you for their best interest but God knows different. “What does not kill will only make you stronger’. |
Ivy
said:
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Mr. Lepore wants forgiveness LOLZ Ummm Joe, seriously,put down the superhero cape. Now you feel guilty because you know you messed up 2 people's lives. Sorry Joe,can't wash off selfishness and guilt so easy. Then you come here crowing about how you try to get their jobs back Like I said before, you could of done this in private,away from the cameras and the media. You thought you could get away with this unscathed. You didn't. You expected a parade...NOT! . There are people who aren't going to like you (count me in). So suck up the haterade dude. You did this. You know the power of the media and you used it you benefit you.But it also bit you in the behind. Fame whoring is a double -edged sword. I call shenanigans on you trying to get their jobs back. Pfft. You don't care about them, you are trying to cleanse your conscience and soul. Doesn't work. Your are dirty. You sat on those photos for 3 weeks. So even if you got them their jobs back, will you be calling FOX, CNN or MSNBC to record the whole thing? Another thing I did mean to ask. If these gentlemen were not African -American,would you have reported them. Somehow I don't think so. If they were white, you would of handed them a coffee and donuts. That is the vibe I get from you. ( and no , I am not African-American ,so don't even go there) So the next time you try to play *ahem* hero, could you do it anonymously? I just don't want to be subjected to another vomit inducing photo of you in a wife beater with Old Glory behind you. |
inescha
said:
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... I was thinking it but youuuu said it...Ivy..That is the best post I have read about this sitaution.. |
Tre
said:
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I love Inescha and Ivy! Inescha and Ivy, I couldnt have said it better, myself. To Mr Lepore: What did you think was going to happen to those 2 security guards? Did you think that they would have recieve a slap on the wrist(suspension)? Uh, sorry not the case. Let's see Mr. Lepore, when you take "valuable" information to a website, which draws national attention, that the guards would keep their jobs? I dont think so! Then, Mr.DeMarco and of course you, wants to write about how their are alot of "Lepore-haters" writing negative comments. What I and some people have been saying is that, all of this could have been handle in a different way. 2 security guards, possibly could have kept their jobs. Mr. Lepore would be sleeping peacefully at night( I think he is), And, Mr. DeMarco's website would relatively be unknown (except to friends, family, and Mr. Lepore). I just had a thought: I would buy Mr. Lepore, Lorraine(his groupie) kidding Lorraine, and Mr. DeMarco dinner if the 2 guards could get their jobs bac.k. than again, hell is not frozen |
Patrick J. Coletta
said:
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... work and church long hours not enough money it doesnt matter the fact is these security jobs like the TSA etc... are not professionals they arent paid like professionals they could be offering "fries with that" tommorrow at Mc burgers you try to sit in a both for 8 hrs with real job but to sit and look at people without falling to sleep if you cant do that yhenyou needto get another job |
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