A bizarre “team-building” game has brought down one of New York’s most senior fire officials. Michele Maglione, 57, an FDNY assistant commissioner who once oversaw youth development programs, abruptly retired this month after sparking outrage with a stunt that many described as “racist” and humiliating.

The incident occurred on Aug. 21, during a summer leadership academy at the FDNY Capt. Vernon A. Richard High School for Fire and Life Safety in Brooklyn. Roughly 35 mostly Black students were gathered when Maglione directed them to participate in a so-called cotton-ball relay race.

The activity involved smearing petroleum jelly on the students’ faces, tying their hands behind their backs, and having them pick up cotton balls with their heads to carry across the classroom. Some students laughed in the moment, but when Maglione proudly posted video of the event on social media, it quickly drew complaints — particularly from FDNY recruiters.

A Game With a Dark Legacy

What may have been dismissed as a goofy camp-style icebreaker took on darker undertones given the history of slavery and cotton-picking in America. Recruiters inside the department said the optics were indefensible.

“It was poor judgment,” one FDNY insider told The Post. “I’ve known Michele for a long time. She cares about those kids. It was an error in judgment, not an intentional act. But one should know better.”

The department swiftly removed Maglione from her post and launched an investigation. Within weeks, she had been demoted and reassigned, before ultimately choosing to retire rather than face disciplinary charges.

“She was permanently removed from her position,” an FDNY spokesperson confirmed.

Longtime Complaints Resurface

For some former students, the cotton-ball fiasco was less surprising than it seemed. Cara McCammon, 24, who attended the FDNY’s EMS Youth Academy in 2023, accused Maglione of fostering a “hostile environment.”

“She once told the mostly Black and Hispanic students, ‘You don’t belong here,’ and called us ‘idiots,’” McCammon claimed. After she criticized Maglione on Instagram, she says she was expelled from the program just a week before her final exams.

“This game was very degrading — tying their hands behind their backs, the Vaseline, the cotton,” McCammon said. “There are so many other games that could have been played. Why this one?”

The FDNY did not respond to those specific allegations.

Outrage From City Leaders

The backlash was swift from city officials. Mayor Eric Adams condemned the activity as “terrible.”

“One should know the significance of picking cotton and putting it on their face,” he said. “I found it offensive, and many people who reached out to me found it offensive.”

NYC Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos also weighed in, calling the game “insensitive” and praising the FDNY for acting quickly. “We will always do everything to ensure our students are respected and supported,” she said.

A Career in Ashes

Maglione, who earned nearly $190,000 in city salary last year, had been with the department for almost two decades. Her role as head of Youth Workforce Development put her in direct contact with students aspiring to careers in firefighting and emergency services.

Now, her career has ended in controversy. She declined to comment when approached at her home in Dyker Heights.

For critics, the resignation brings closure but also highlights deeper issues. “It’s unfortunate that it took her using such an inappropriate event to reveal her true character to the world,” McCammon said.

For supporters, it’s the sad downfall of a woman once considered dedicated to bringing more diversity into the FDNY’s ranks. But for the city, the message is clear: even a poorly chosen game can ignite a firestorm in a department already under scrutiny for equity and inclusion.