It’s a shame to see a group of firefighters in New York facing criminal charges for some altercations during a rally Friday.

Protesting Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s decision to reduce the number of firefighters from the recovery efforts at the World Trade Center disaster site from 300 to 24, 12 people - 11 active firefighters among them - were arrested on charges of inciting a riot, assault, criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct and obstructing governmental administration.

Hundreds of firefighters took part in the protest, organized by the Uniformed Firefighters Association, which believes the cutbacks were done for economic reasons and that all debris, including remains, would be sent to a landfill on Staten Island.

City officials said the scaling back was a necessity to maintain safety, noting several near misses at the unsafe site.

Clearly, the firefighters were in violation of the law, but it’s a case that is completely understandable. We can see why this happened and we hope prosecutors will as well. If a crime ever needed a slap on the wrist punishment, this is it.

The World Trade Center disaster is an emotionally raw subject - a place many lost friends, family members, co-workers and colleagues - and it only stands to reason the New York firefighters would want to be present at the site.

In such a delicate time, it is difficult to make a decision that everybody would be happy with. Safety must be an utmost concern to keep the rescue and recovery workers safe. There is no need to cause more injury or death in the already gruesome scene.

But the New York firefighters deserve a modicum of consideration as well in regards to the 343 dead among their ranks. This incident highlights just how deeply they feel for the men and women they lost.

The need for safety and the desire for respect can go hand-in-hand, and we hope the prosecution against the arrested firefighters will see this issue in the same light.