FDNY chief forced to reject $35K raised for his family over ‘conflict of interest’

By Susan Edelman

August 16, 2015 | 5:42am

FDNY chief forced to reject $35K raised for his family over ‘conflict of interest’

Paul Mannix Photo: Gregory P. Mango

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An FDNY deputy chief had to reject more than $35,000 raised for his family after department brass sent him a letter warning that accepting the funds might be a “conflict of interest.”

Paul Mannix, who founded anti-quota group Merit Matters, was docked 50 days’ pay for allegedly leaking info to reporters. He also agreed to disband the group and end his blog.

When the discipline was announced, a firefighter who had never met Mannix — Anthony Henry of Engine 10 — launched a campaign on GoFundMe that raised $41,558 from 660 supporters in three days.

Henry said he would send Mannix $35,000 to cover his lost income and donate the rest to charity. But the FDNY said the gift might violate conflict-of-interest rules forbidding city employees to accept money from subordinates.

Henry returned all 660 donations.

Mannix, often quoted in the media,argued that firefighter candidates should be held to the same standards, regardless of race or gender.