Two NYPD officers charged with brutally beating a Long Beach firefighter pleaded not guilty Thursday.

Douglas Rome, 25, of Rose Avenue in Floral Park, and Jason Ragoo, 26, of East Beach Street in Long Beach, were arraigned on misdemeanor assault charges in connection with the Saturday night beating of Brian McNamara.

Long Beach City Manager Charles Theofan says the attack began after the cops uttered a rude remark toward the firefighter's sister, which he says McNamara objected to.

"?They rewarded him with a severe beating," Theofan says. "And, you know, my understanding is that at one point [McNamara] actually broke free and was able to walk across the street, and they pursued him and beat him again. So this was, as I said, horrendous."

About a dozen Long Beach firefighters appeared at Long Beach City Hall to support McNamara, who was not present at the arraignment. His colleagues say the victim does not look good after the assault.

Long Beach officials are now looking for an unidentified third attacker still on the loose. Meanwhile, Rome and Ragoo, both assigned to the 101st Precinct in Far Rockaway, have been suspended without pay and stripped of their badges and guns.

The officers were released on their own recognizance and are due back in court Nov. 5.