Fair Or Not?

From Firehouse.com: Firefighters are blazing mad over a new requirement that they turn in their beloved helmets after 10 years as the FDNY upgrades the equipment — or pay $100 to keep the mementos.
The Bravest tore into the new city policy, which requires they get new helmets once a decade for safety reasons.
The city picks up the tab and confiscates the old headgear, but many firefighters said they should be allowed to keep their helmets for free.
“Your helmet isn’t just your piece of safety equipment. It’s a badge of honor,” said a firefighter from Squad 288 in Maspeth, Queens. “It shows how many fires you’ve been to. Look at the soot on my helmet.”
Another member of the Bravest said he begrudgingly paid the city $100 to keep his helmet — which he wore when he responded to the 9/11 terror attacks.
“It’s the helmet that guys wore on the pile,” he said. “Everything else is gone from there. When you’re a fireman your helmet is who you are. With all the guys that are dying now with lung cancer, you figure the least they would do is let you keep the helmet you wore that day.”
The FDNY recently implemented the National Fire Protection Association’s policy that it change gear every 10 years to keep up with new safety standards. It instituted the option to buy back helmets as a courtesy to members of the force. http://www.firehouse.com/news/10815270/new-helmet-policy-angers-some-fdny-firefighters
While I do feel for the firefighters a little bit, at least they are being given a choice as to whether they can buy their old helmets or not.
If the helmets are owned by the city, they the city, has the right to whatever they want with the helmets, including charging $100 for the old helmet.  If the firefighter bought the helmet many years ago, then they should get to keep the for free.
Old FDNY helmets selling on e-bay can sell for a couple hundred dollars.  So, if a firefighter wanted to profit, so should the city.
A cop doesn't get to keep their gun when they retire, a teacher can't keep their desk, a cook can't keep their stove so why should the firefighter be any different?
Yes,  it is a sentimental item for the firefighter, but it's just not theirs.  If you want the helmet so badly, just buy the darn thing.