EXCLUSIVE: Younger brother of NYPD brutality victim Abner Louima fulfills lifelong dream of becoming FDNY firefighter

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Saturday, August 15, 2015, 2:30 AM

The baby brother of police brutality victim Abner Louima is now a proud member of the FDNY — and his family couldn’t be happier.

Jonas Louima, 44, realized his lifelong dream of becoming a New York City firefighter in May — and now works out of Engine 240 in Brooklyn.

“He wanted to be a firefighter from a very young age. That’s all he talked about as a young boy,” said older brother Abner, 48.

“He took the tests a long time ago and did well, but he was waitlisted. He was waiting and waiting for a call from the FDNY, but it never came,” Louima said.

Jonas Louima works out of Engine 240 in Brooklyn.

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AARON SHOWALTER FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Jonas Louima works out of Engine 240 in Brooklyn.

The two brothers have always been close, he said. They were out clubbing together on Aug. 9, 1997 — the night that changed Abner Louima’s life forever.

He got arrested by city cop Justin Volpe and other officers when police responded to a bar fight in Club Rendez-Vous. The officers brutally beat him and Volpe later sexually assaulted Louima with a toilet plunger in the bathroom of the 70th Precinct stationhouse.

The young dad’s colon and bladder were so badly damaged he needed three surgeries to fully recover.

Abner Louima later won $8.75 million from the city, one of the largest police-brutality settlements in New York history. Despite his sad history with city cops, Louima said he feels nothing but joy at having a firefighter brother.

“When he got a letter in the mail that he would have a second chance, he was so happy. He called me right away,” said Abner. “It was his dream come true … as his big brother, I am behind him 100%.”

Jonas Louima declined to be interviewed, but his brother said he got on the job as part of a wave of about 300 black and Latino firefighters — known as “priority hires” — who benefitted from a landmark discrimination lawsuit brought forth in 2007 by the Vulcan Society, a group of black activist firefighters.

Abner Louima later won $8.75 million from the city, one of the largest police-brutality settlements in New York history.

A Brooklyn judge sparked outrage among some Bravest when he ruled in favor of the Vulcans in 2012 — and his mandate that prior minority candidates like Louima get a second try spurred cries of special treatment.

But Abner Louima, who splits his time between Miami and New York, is confident his younger brother can handle any firehouse heat.

“He’s very friendly, and a good worker; he is doing fine,” Louima said. “He did have a hard time in the training academy, it was very challenging but I told him, ‘You have to fight in life for what you want,’ and he made it.”

Vulcan Society President Regina Wilson said Louima was a welcome addition to the department.

“His family has been through so much … and we’re just happy that he’s now part of the FDNY family and can serve the city,” she said.

With John Marzulli