Leonard was the 35th Chief of department in the 150-year history of the New York City Fire Department.[2] The Fire Chief is the most senior uniformed member of the fire department. Chief Leonard was relieved of duty for alleged misconduct on December 6,2018.[3][4] He officially retired on February 15,2019.[citation needed]
Born in Brooklyn as a third-generation Irish American,Leonard grew up in Flatbush and received a Roman Catholic school system education.[5] Leonard also attended a Franciscan college,earning an associate degree in Criminal Justice and a bachelor's degree in Sociology from St. Francis College in 1983.[6] Leonard also holds a Master of Science degree in Fire Protection Management from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.[7]
Leonard lives in Staten Island,and has a son,Thomas J. Leonard,who is a firefighter at Ladder 77 with the FDNY.[1]
Career
Leonard was the first member of his family to be a member of the FDNY,beginning his career in 1979 in Flatbush,Brooklyn first with Engine 310,then Ladder 174.[2][5] After spending a year on the "Red Cap" arson street patrol in East New York,Leonard joined Ladder 85 in Staten Island in 1987.[8] Leonard quickly promoted to lieutenant two years later and was assigned to Ladder 168 in Brooklyn. Eventually,he promoted to Battalion Chief in 1996,and soon after became Deputy Chief in 2002.[9] Before becoming Fire Chief,Leonard was appointed Deputy Assistant Chief in 2010 and served as Brooklyn Borough Commander.[8][1]
Misconduct and inappropriate behavior
Leonard was known as "Jekyll and Hyde" for his "abrasive and aggressive" conduct and a "tendency to shout at and berate others".[10] That conduct would also turn into "bullying and screaming" towards subordinates and co-workers.[11] Leonard also displayed a consistent pattern of sexism and misogyny,including use of misogynistic slurs and a notable instance of hostility towards a popular FDNY chaplain - a lesbian woman,right after the 2015 Gay Pride Parade.[10]
Leonard's behavior made for a dysfunctional working environment,and his prejudice would ultimately lead to the discrimination of his civilian counterpart in the department,First Deputy Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. As the highest-ranking member of the uniformed branch of the department,Leonard ordered top-level chiefs to not interact with the administrative branch - to not speak with Kavanagh or her subordinates. Uniformed officers had to find ways to work surreptitiously with non-uniformed administrators.[11]
Leonard was relieved from his duties in December 2018,following misconduct charges. He officially retired from the department on February 15,2019.[12]
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