A fire chief’s bold move in Brentwood has sparked a fiery clash with a local politician. Democratic Assemblyman Phil Ramos accused the Brentwood Fire Department of aiding federal immigration raids, prompting Chief Bryant Figueroa to storm Ramos’ office in a heated confrontation.
The New York Post reported that last week, Ramos led a protest outside the Brentwood Fire Department after spotting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents using the fire station’s parking lot as a staging area.
Protest signs waved defiantly, one proclaiming, “ICE melts under pressure,” while another demanded tax dollars fund safety, not fear. Ramos, a former police officer, claimed the department’s leadership was out of touch with Brentwood’s diverse community.
The fire department, however, denied any role in ICE’s operations, insisting they had no knowledge of agents using their lot.
A viral video showing masked ICE agents and unmarked cars at the fire station fueled public outrage. Ramos’ accusations set the stage for a dramatic showdown with Figueroa.
On Thursday night, November 7, 2024, Figueroa allegedly barged into Ramos’ office unannounced. Ignoring staff instructions to stay in the public area, he marched into Ramos’ private office, slamming an envelope on the desk. The letter inside stripped Ramos of his honorary “chief” title and erased his name from the East Brentwood Fire House walls.
“Chief Bryant Figueroa stormed into my office unannounced, ignoring repeated instructions,” Ramos said.
He called the act trespassing and an attempt at intimidation. Such theatrics from a public servant seem less about leadership and more about settling scores.
Figueroa’s letter, obtained by The Post, didn’t hold back. “Your words and actions have fueled public mistrust,” he wrote, accusing Ramos of sowing division. The chief’s decision to revoke an honorary title over a policy dispute feels like a personal jab, not a defense of principle.
Ramos claimed Figueroa taunted staff, daring them to “call ICE” when asked to leave. “Then call the police. Call ICE,” Figueroa reportedly said, a quip that lands more like a provocation than a witty retort. Ramos, undeterred, accused the chief of crossing into personal retaliation.
“I will not be intimidated,” Ramos declared. His vow to keep advocating for his community sounds noble, but his protest rhetoric risks painting the fire department as villains without evidence. The truth likely lies in a gray area neither side wants to acknowledge.
The fire department issued a press release denying any collaboration with ICE. They claimed no awareness of federal agents using their property, a stance that strains credulity given the viral video evidence. Transparency, not denial, might have cooled this controversy.
Figueroa’s letter criticized Ramos for failing to stand with the fire department in crisis. “We expect our community leaders to stand shoulder to shoulder with us,” he wrote. Yet storming an elected official’s office hardly builds the unity Figueroa claims to champion.
Ramos, a former cop who once sued his department for civil rights violations, positioned himself as a defender of Brentwood’s diverse residents. His accusation that the fire department is “out of touch” carries weight in a community wary of federal overreach. Still, his protest-first approach may escalate tensions rather than resolve them.
The Brentwood Fire Department stayed silent when asked about Figueroa’s office visit. Their lack of response leaves the public guessing about their side of the story. A clear explanation could have doused some of the outrage.
Ramos vowed to “shine the light of justice” on the issue, a lofty promise that sounds more like a campaign slogan than a solution. His refusal to back down is admirable, but his rhetoric risks alienating first responders who serve under pressure. Balance, not bravado, might better serve Brentwood.
“I will not be silenced,” Ramos insisted, framing himself as a victim of “gestapo-like tactics.” The hyperbole undermines his point—comparing a fire chief’s tantrum to totalitarian oppression cheapens the real struggles of his constituents. Figueroa’s actions were reckless, but Ramos’ response isn’t exactly measured.
