New York City Fire Commissioner

Last updated

Fire Commissioner
of the City of New York
Incumbent
Robert S. Tucker
since August 12, 2024
Appointer Mayor of New York
Term length Not specified
Renewable at mayor's pleasure
Formation1865

The New York City Fire Commissioner is the civilian administrator of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), and is appointed by the Mayor of the City of New York. Prior to 1865, the New York City Fire Department was staffed by volunteers. On March 30, 1865 the New York State legislature passed a law organizing the Metropolitan Fire Department as a paid firefighting force that took control of all the powers and authority of the volunteer department, as well as all the assets such as the fire trucks, equipment, and buildings. The law also created a commission to oversee the department, and for its administration and functioning. [1] After a lawsuit contesting the constitutionality of the law was dismissed by the New York Court of Appeals, [2] it immediately started to operate. [3] [4]

Contents

During the remainder of the 19th century, the number of commissioners was periodically changed by the New York State legislature, until a single commissioner was put in charge of the FDNY when Manhattan and the Bronx consolidated with Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island to form The City of New York on January 1, 1898. Since then, there have been 35 commissioners excluding Acting Fire Commissioners, and 39 commissioners including Acting Fire Commissioners. The current commissioner is Robert Tucker, who was appointed on August 12, 2024.

Fire Commissioners of the pre-consolidated City of New York

During this period, the commissioners elected their own president who ran the commission meetings, [5] and treasurer, who was the fiscal officer and responsible for reporting the department's finances to the mayor and the Board of Aldermen. [6]

DateCommissioners
As a commission of four, nominated by the Governor, by and with the consent of the State Senate [1]
May 3, 1865Charles C. Pinckney [3] [4] James W. Booth [3] [4] Philip W. Engs [3] [4] Martin B. Brown [3] [4]
May 4, 1865elected president [7] elected treasurer [7]
August 30, 1865resigned, position vacant [8]
September 1, 1865Joshua G. Abbe [9]
March 30, 1867resigned, position vacant
As a commission of five, nominated by the Governor, by and with the consent of the State Senate [10]
May 1, 1867 Alexander Shaler [11]
elected president [11]
Joshua G. Abbe [11]
elected treasurer [11]
Theodorus Bailey Myers [11] James Galway [11] Monmouth B. Wilson [11]
September 21, 1868died, position vacant [12]
September 26, 1868elected treasurer [13]
November 18, 1868James M. McLean [14]
As a commission of five, nominated by the Mayor, with the consent of the City Aldermen [15]
late April 1870Alexander Shaler [16] William Hitchman [16] James S. Hennessy [16] James Galway [16] John J. Blair [16]
April 30, 1870elected president [17] elected treasurer [17]
As a commission of three, nominated by the Mayor, with the consent of the City Aldermen [18]
May 16, 1873Joseph L. Perley [19] Roswell D. Hatch [19] Cornelius Van Cott [19]
May 19, 1873elected president [20] elected treasurer [20]
May 1, 1875term ended
Vincent C. King [21]
May 1, 1877term ended [22]
May 3, 1877John J. Gorman [22]
May 5, 1877elected treasurer [22] elected president [22]
May 1, 1879term ended, position vacant [23]
May 20, 1879Van Cott (second non-consec. term) [24]
May 1, 1881term ended, position vacant [25] [26]
May 9, 1881elected president [25] [26] [27] [28]
August 10, 1881elected treasurer [25] [26] elected president [25] [26]
September 14, 1881Henry D. Purroy [25] [26] [29]
May 10, 1883elected president [30] elected treasurer [30]
November 16, 1883resigned [31]
Richard Croker [31]
May 1, 1885term ended [32]
May 9, 1885remaining term taken by Purroy [32]
elected president [32]
elected treasurer [32] resigned to take Van Cott’s remaining term [32]
Elward Smith [32]
May 9, 1887resigned to take Smith's remaining term [33]
position vacant [33]
term ended [33]
Croker (second term) [33]
May 10, 1888 Fitz John Porter [34]
April 9, 1889resigned to become City Chamberlain [35]
position vacant
May 2, 1889resigned to take Porter's remaining term [36]
Anthony Eickhoff [36]
elected treasurer [36]
Purroy (second term) [36] S. Howland Robbins [36]
May 29, 1891Eickhoff (reappointed to second term) [37]
January 1, 1893resigned to become New York County Clerk [38]
position vacant
January 10, 1893 John J. Scannell [39] elected president [39]
May 1, 1893reapppointed/moved to an empty full term [40]
Henry Winthrop Gray [40]
term ended [40]
Scannell (full term) [40]
May 2, 1893elected treasurer [41] elected president [41]
February 2, 1894resigned [42] [43]
replaced by S. Howland Robbins [42] [43]
March 5, 1895resigned/removed [44]
replaced by Oscar H. La Grange [44]
elected president [44]
March 7, 1895resigned/removed [45]
James R. Sheffield [45]
May 1, 1895term ended [46]
Austin E. Ford [46] [47]
June 30, 1896elected treasurer [48]
September 17, 1896died, position vacant [49]
September 26, 1896 Thomas Sturgis [49]
September 28, 1896elected president [50] elected treasurer [50]
January 1, 1898replaced by Scannell as a single commissioner (see next table)

Fire Commissioners of the consolidated City of New York

NumberNameDates in OfficeAdministrationNotes and ReferencesDeputy
1 John J. Scannell January 1, 1898 – December 31, 1901 Robert Anderson Van Wyck His salary was $5,000 per year (approximately $170,000 today) [51] [52] James H. Tully [53]
2 Thomas Sturgis January 1, 1902 – December 31, 1903 Seth Low Previously served as a pre-consolidation fire commissioner. [49] Richard H. Laimbeer [54]
3 Nicholas J. Hayes January 1, 1904 – December 31, 1905 George B. McClellan Jr. [55] [56] [57] William A. Doyle [58]
John H. O'Brien January 1, 1906 – October 10, 1906Resigned before completing his term. [59] [60]
5 Francis J. Lantry October 10, 1906 – February 10, 1908Resigned before completing his term. [61] [62]
6 Hugh Bonner February 10, 1908 – March 13, 1908Died before completing his term. [63] [64]
Nicholas J. HayesMarch 13, 1908 – January 3, 1910This was his second non-consecutive term. [65] [66] Charles C. Wise [67]
7 Rhinelander Waldo January 3, 1910 – May 23, 1911 William Jay Gaynor Resigned less than two months after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire to become the 8th New York City Police Commissioner. He was also Chief of the Aqueduct Police. Now the New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police. [68] [69] [70] Arthur J. O'Keeffe [67]
8 Joseph Johnson May 23, 1911? – June 1, 1911 (acting)
June 1, 1911 – December 31, 1913
William Jay Gaynor,
Ardolph L. Kline
Acting New York City Fire Commissioner, then promoted to New York City Fire Commissioner. [71] [72] [73] Philip J. Farley [74]
9 Robert Edward Adamson January 1, 1914 – December 31, 1917 John Purroy Mitchel [75] [76] Richard H. Laimbeer [54]
10 Thomas J. Drennan January 1, 1918 – April 30, 1926 John Francis Hylan,
Jimmy Walker
Resigned before completing his term. [77] [78]
11 John J. Dorman May 5, 1926 – December 31, 1933Jimmy Walker,
Joseph V. McKee,
John P. O'Brien
[79] [80]
Francis S. GiacomeJanuary 1, 1934 – January 18, 1934 (acting) Fiorello H. La Guardia Acting New York City Fire Commissioner. [81]
12 John J. McElligott January 18, 1934 – February 23, 1940Resigned during a corruption scandal before completing his term. [82]
13 Elmer Mustard February 23, 1940 – February 26, 1940 (acting)Acting New York City Fire Commissioner during a corruption scandal. [83] [84]
John J. McElligottFebruary 26, 1940 – May 8, 1941Second non-consecutive term. Resigned during a corruption scandal before completing his term. [85] [86]
14 Patrick Walsh May 8, 1941 – December 31, 1945 [87] [88]
15 Frank J. Quayle Jr. January 1, 1946 – November 13, 1950 William O'Dwyer,
Vincent R. Impellitteri
Resigned before completing his term. [89] [90]
Nathan C. HorwitzNovember 13, 1950 – December 27, 1950 (acting)Vincent R. ImpellitteriActing New York City Fire Commissioner. [91] [92]
16 George P. Monaghan December 27, 1950 – July 9, 1951Resigned to become New York City Police Commissioner. [93] [94] [95]
Nathan C. HorwitzJuly 9, 1951 – August 2, 1951 (acting)This was his second non-consecutive term as Acting New York City Fire Commissioner. [94] [96]
17 Jacob B. Grumet August 2, 1951 – February 15, 1954 [96] [97] [98]
18 Edward Francis Cavanagh Jr. February 15, 1954 – December 31, 1961 Robert F. Wagner Jr. [99] [100]
19 Edward Thompson January 1, 1962 – August 6, 1964Resigned before completing his term. [101] [102]
20 Martin Scott August 6, 1964 – December 31, 1965 [103] [104]
21 Robert Oliver Lowery January 1, 1966 – September 29, 1973 John Lindsay First African-American New York City Fire Commissioner, resigned before completing his term. [105] [106]
22 John T. O'Hagan October 11, 1973 – January 17, 1978John Lindsay,
Abraham Beame
[107] [108]
23 Augustus A. Beekman January 17, 1978 – November 5, 1980 Ed Koch Second African-American New York City Fire Commissioner, resigned before completing his term because of illness preceding his death. [109] [110]
24 Charles J. Hynes November 5, 1980 – October 22, 1982Resigned before completing his term. [111]
25 Joseph E. Spinnato October 22, 1982 – February 17, 1983 (interim)
February 17, 1983 – November 16, 1987
Resigned before completing his term. [112] [113]
26 Joseph F. Bruno November 16, 1987 – December 31, 1989 [114]
27 Carlos M. Rivera January 1, 1990 – August 31, 1993 David Dinkins Resigned before completing his term. [115]
28 William M. Feehan August 31, 1993 – November 24, 1993 (acting)
November 24, 1993 – December 31, 1993
Acting New York City Fire Commissioner, then promoted to New York City Fire Commissioner. Died in the September 11 attacks. [116]
29 Howard Safir January 1, 1994 – April 15, 1996 Rudy Giuliani Resigned to become the 39th New York City Police Commissioner. [117]
30 Thomas Von Essen April 15, 1996 – December 31, 2001 [118]
31 Nicholas Scoppetta January 1, 2002 – December 31, 2009 Michael Bloomberg [119]
32 Salvatore Cassano January 1, 2010 – June 7, 2014Michael Bloomberg,
Bill de Blasio
Replaced by Bill De Blasio with Daniel A. Nigro [120]
33 Daniel A. Nigro June 7, 2014 – February 16, 2022 Bill de Blasio,
Eric Adams
[121]
34 Laura Kavanagh February 16, 2022 – October 27, 2022 (interim)
October 27, 2022 – August 7, 2024
Eric Adams [122] [123] [124]
Joseph W. Pfeifer August 7, 2024 – August 12, 2024
(acting)
[125]
35 Robert Tucker August 12, 2024 – current [126]

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References

  1. 1 2 Laws of the State of New York Passed at the Eighty-Eighth Session of the Legislature, Begun January Third and Ended April Twenty-Ninth, 1865, in the City of Albany. Chapter 249 – An act to create a Metropolitan Fire District and establish a Fire Department therein. Vol. 88. Albany: William Gould. 1865. pp. 395–396. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  2. "The Paid Fire Department – Sketch of the Volunteer Department – Its History and Defects – The New Bill in the Legislature – Legal Action – Final Establishment of the Bill – How the Firemen Feel – The New Board – Their First Public Paper". The New York Times. June 22, 1865. p. 8. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Fire Commissioners Sworn In – Philip W. Engs Appointed in Place of Samuel Sloan". The New York Times. May 4, 1865. p. 5. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Paid Fire Department – A Temporary Injunction Obtained Against Chief-Engineer Decker, the Mayor and Common Council – The Apparatus and Property Not to be Transferred at Present to the New Commissioners – A Stout Fight to be Made in the Courts Against the Enforcement of the Law – The Feeling of the Old Firemen Expressed by Themselves – First Meeting of the New Board – Chas. E. Pinckney, President; Philip W. Engs, Treasurer, and Charles E. Gildersleeve, Secretary – Supreme Court – Chambers – Before Justice Sutherland". The New York Times. May 5, 1865. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  5. Laws of the State of New York Passed at the Eighty-Eighth Session of the Legislature..., §4, pages 396–397
  6. Laws of the State of New York Passed at the Eighty-Eighth Session of the Legislature..., §9, page 398
  7. 1 2 "Organization of the New Fire Board". The New York Times. May 5, 1865. p. 4. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  8. "The Fire Department – Resignation of Commissioner Booth – Employes in the Chief's Office". The New York Times. August 31, 1865. p. 2. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  9. "The New Fire Commissioner". The New York Times. September 1, 1865. p. 4. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  10. John W. Edmonds, ed. (1870). "1". Statutes at Large of the State of New York Containing the General Statues Passed in the Years 1867, 1868, 1869, & 1870 With a Reference to All the Decisions Upon Them – Chapter 408 – An act to provide for an additional Metropolitan Fire Commissioner, and to regulate and establish the pay of the members and employees of the Metropolitan Fire Department. Vol. VII (First ed.). Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons & Company. pp. 98–99. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Fire Department – Organization of the New Board". The New York Times. May 2, 1867. p. 2. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  12. "Obituary – Death of J.G. Abbe". The New York Times. September 21, 1868. p. 5. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  13. "The Fire Department – New Code of Signals — Discipline of the Force — The Library — Mr. Abbe's Successor". The New York Times. September 27, 2024. p. 8. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  14. "Election of a Fire Commissioner". New York Daily Tribune. November 13, 1868. p. 8. Retrieved July 9, 2024 via newspapers.com.
  15. "81". Laws of the State of New York, Passed at the Ninety-Third Session of the Legislature, Begun January Fourth, and Ended April Twenty-Sixth, 1870, in the City of Albany – Chapter 137 – An act to reorganize the local government of the City of New York – Article Tenth. Vol. I. Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons & Company. 1870. p. 387. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "The City Government – Heads of Departments Appointed by the Mayor". The New York Times. April 11, 1870. p. 8. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  17. 1 2 "Fire Department – Organization of the New Board – Resolutions and Orders". The New York Times. May 1, 1870. p. 6. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  18. "76". Laws of the State Affecting Interests in the City and County of New York, Passed by the Legislature of 1873 – Chapter 335 – Article X – An act to reorganize the local government of the City of New York. New York: Martin B. Brown. June 30, 1873. p. 109. Retrieved June 11, 2024 via Board of Supervisors.
  19. 1 2 3 "Special Session – Board of Aldermen – Messages from His Honor the Mayor". The City Record. 1 (1): 1. June 24, 1873. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  20. 1 2 "Fire Department". The City Record. 1 (3): 9. June 26, 1873. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  21. "Fire Department – Report for the Quarter Ending June 30, 1875" (PDF). The City Record. III (652): 1. August 9, 1875. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  22. 1 2 3 4 "Fire Department – Report for the Quarter ending June 30, 1877" (PDF). The City Record. V (1, 246): 999. July 18, 1877. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  23. Costello, A.E. (2002) [1887]. Birth of the Bravest – A History of the New York Fire Department from 1609 to 1887 (First, Substantially Abridged ed.). New York: Tom Doherty Associates. p. 395. ISBN   0-765-30582-8.
  24. Costello, p. 395–386.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 "Fire Department – Report for the Three Months and Year ending December 31, 1881" (PDF). The City Record. X (2, 754): supplement. June 23, 1882. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 Report of the Fire Department of the City of New York for the Three Months and Year Ending December 31, 1881, With the Rules and Regulations, Tabular Statements and Details of Fires and Alarms, and Law Relating to the Department. New York: Martin B. Brown. 1882. p. 3. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  27. "Fire Department" (PDF). The City Record. IX (2, 420): 849. May 18, 1881. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  28. Costello, p. 400.
  29. "Legislative Department – Board of Aldermen – Stated Session" (PDF). The City Record. IX (2, 519): 1,627. September 14, 1881. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  30. 1 2 "Fire Department – Communications" (PDF). The City Record. XI (3, 063): 1,385. June 27, 1883. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  31. 1 2 "Croker Gets an Office – But Not So Good As the Police Justiceship – Croker Made Fire Commissioner in Place of Gorman, Who With O'Reilly, Becomes Police Justice". The New York Times. November 16, 1883. p. 8. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Fire Department – Report for the Quarter ending June 30, 1885" (PDF). The City Record. XIII (3, 703): 1,619. July 28, 1885. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  33. 1 2 3 4 "Appointed by the Mayor – Filling Six Vacant Seats in Departments – Three New Commissioners — Porter and Voorhis Retained — Croker Reappointed After Resigning". The New York Times. May 9, 1887. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  34. "Four New Commissioners – The Mayor's Selection for Vacant Places – Porter for the Fire Department, MacLean for Police, Daly for Accounts, and Towle for Parks". The New York Times. May 11, 1888. p. 8. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  35. "Croker in the Fat Office – The Mayor Makes Him City Chamberlain – He Files His Bond and Appoints a Deputy – Something About the Leader of Tammany Hall". The New York Times. April 10, 1888. p. 6. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 "Fire Department – Report for the Quarter ending June 30, 1889" (PDF). The City Record. XVII (4, 974): 2,954. September 23, 1889. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  37. "Scannell Out in the Cold – Mayor Grant Announces His Appointments at Last – Eickhoff Succeeds Himself — Phelan Made Dock Commissioner — The Smith-Welde Deal Carried Out — A Cold Shoulder to Voorhis". The New York Times. May 30, 1891. p. 8. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  38. "Good Thing to Guess At – Why Grant Left All the Offices for Gilroy to Fill – Some Say He Disregarded the Spirit of the Law — They Declare That It Was His Duty to Make Certain Appointments — An Explanation Involving Scannell". The New York Times. November 27, 1892. p. 10. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  39. 1 2 "Executive Department – Communications" (PDF). The City Record. XXI (5, 982): 125. January 11, 1893. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  40. 1 2 3 4 "Places Filled by the Mayor – He Makes Fifteen Appointments and Clears His Desk – Bernard F. Martin a Police Justice and John J. Scanell Reappointed Fire Commissioner — Brennan Not Touched — Many Surprises in the List — Curiosity as to Andrew J. White's Action in Accepting a Smaller Salary and Shorter Term Than He Had — Wanted a Change". The New York Times. May 2, 1893. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  41. 1 2 "Fire Commissioners Reorganize". The New York Times. May 3, 1893. p. 8. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  42. 1 2 "H. Winthrop Gray Is Out – Relations with Fellow-Fire Commissioners Unpleasant". The New York Times. February 3, 1894. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  43. 1 2 "Mr. Gray Resigns – And S. Howland Robbins Succeeds Him as Fire Commissioner – Culmination of Quarrels Over the Soteldo Charges – Interesting Letters Held Back". The World. New York, N.Y. February 3, 1894. p. 9. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  44. 1 2 3 "Place for Gen La Grange – Will Succeed John J. Scannell as Fire Commissioner – Talking Over the Local Census – May Be Begun About April 1 — Delegation of Women Call on the Mayor and Suggest Six School Commissioners". The New York Times. March 5, 1895. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  45. 1 2 "James R. Sheffield's New Office – Sworn In as a Fire Commissioner to Succeed Anthony Eickhoff — Other Appointments to be Made". The New York Times. March 8, 1895. p. 9. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  46. 1 2 "Appointed by the Mayor – Austin E. Ford Becomes a Member of the Fire Board – A Six-Year Term for Mr. Einstein – His Place on the Dock Board Made Permanent — Police Commission May Not Be Completed Pending Legislation". The New York Times. May 2, 1895. p. 8. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  47. "Fire Department" (PDF). The City Record. XXIII (6, 780): 2,413. August 22, 1895. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  48. "Mr. Sheffield's Resignation – Mr. Ford Now Treasurer of the Fire Board — Time for Conon". The New York Times. June 30, 1896. p. 11. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  49. 1 2 3 "To Succeed Austin E. Ford – Thomas Sturgis Made a Fire Commissioner by the Mayor". The New York Times. September 27, 1896. p. 11. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  50. 1 2 "Fire Department" (PDF). The City Record. XXIV (7, 177): 3,611. December 11, 1896. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  51. "The New City Officials — As Announced by Mayor Van Wyck, the Slate Contains Some Surprises — Politicians Are Puzzled — Friends of Hugh J. Grant Seem to be Intentionally Ignored — The List as Given Out Yesterday". The New York Times. January 2, 1898. p. 1. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  52. "J.J. Scannell, Old Tammanyite, Dies — Ex-Fire Commissioner and Ex-Fire Chief Expires of Pneumonia at 78 Years — Avenged Brother's Death — Acquitted as Insane, His Political Rise Followed Friendship Made with Croker in Tombs". The New York Times. March 6, 1918. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
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  58. "W. A. Doyle Deputy Fire Commissioner". The Evening World. New York. December 30, 1903. p. 2.
  59. "New Fire Head Turns Down Croker's Order — O'Brien Sustains Hayes in Clash with the Chief — Inherits Department Row — Croker Revoked Hayes' Details, Hayes Reasserted Them, and the Chief Revoked Them Again". The New York Times. January 2, 1906. p. 5. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  60. "J.H. O'Brien Dies; Ex-City Official — Former Fire Commissioner and Member of Water Supply Board of New York — Served Public 3 Decades — When Political Writer for The Sun — Attracted Notice of Late Mayor McClellan". The New York Times. February 5, 1941. p. 19. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  61. "Mayor Drafts Lantry For Fire Commissioner — Coggey Made the Head of the Correction Department — He Has Been a Murphy Man — Lantry, Who Takes O'Brien's Place, Highly Praised by Mayor McClellan Before the Shift". The New York Times. October 11, 1906. p. 16. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
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  63. "Hugh Bonner Heads Fire Department — This and Other Appointments by the Mayor Please Tammany Leader Murphy — Spooner Head of Docks — McClellan, In an Official Statement, Pleads for Democratic Unity Here for the Coming National Fight". The New York Times. February 11, 1908. p. 6. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  64. "Hugh Bonner Dead — Recently Appointed Fire Commissioner and Long a Chief in the Department". The New York Times. March 13, 1908. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  65. "Hayes In Bonner's Place — Mayor Makes the ex-Sheriff City Fire Commissioner". The New York Times. March 21, 1908. p. 3. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  66. "Nicholas J. Hayes Dies Suddenly — Commissioner of Water Supply Is Stricken With Heart Disease in His Home — Once a Power in Tammany — Served as Sheriff and as Head of Fire Department — Was Friend of Late C.F. Murphy". The New York Times. January 3, 1928. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
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  68. "Gaynor Names Six; Tiger Not Favored — Announcement Coupled with Praise of Murphy Who, Says the Mayor, Hasn't Horns — Waldo Fire Commissioner — Watkins Corporation Counsel, Tomkins Dock Commissioner, and Hyde City Chamberlain". The New York Times. January 3, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  69. "Gaynor Puts Waldo In Cropsey's Place — Tells Him to Banish Favoritism from Police as He Did from Fire Department — Inspector O'Brien Out — Cropsey's Last Official Act — Resigned Thursday After a Tilt — Croker or O'Keeffe for Fire Head". The New York Times. May 24, 1911. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  70. "Waldo, 50, Dies Of Septic Poisoning — Former Police and Fire Head Succumbs at Garrison, N.Y., of an Old Ailment — Served in the Philippines — Arduous Labors There Blamed for Fatal Illness — Storm Centre While In Office Here". The New York Times. August 14, 1927. p. 28. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  71. "Driscoll Quits Job; O'Keeffe To Get It — Will Command in Brooklyn — McKay of Aqueduct Police Fourth Deputy in Booraem's Place — Gaynor Talks Amid Cheers — Central Figure at Promotion of 129 Men — 86 Appointments to Force, Including Cropsey's Troublesome 48". The New York Times. May 30, 1911. p. 3. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  72. "Johnson Appointed Fire Commissioner — O'Keeffe's Selection as First Police Deputy Is Now Expected — Waldo Praises Successor — Who Says the Department Will Run Along as New Police Head Planned — The Great Oak's Career". The New York Times. p. 5. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  73. "Joseph Johnson, 71, Ex-Official In City — Fire Commissioner, 1911-1917 — Was Named by Gaynor — Dies at Home in Atlanta — Former Newspaper Man — Began 'Model Saloon' in 1904 — Had Been Film Executive and Served Red Cross". The New York Times. March 9, 1942. p. 19. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  74. "Laimbeer Deputy Fire Commissioner". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. January 16, 1914. p. 1.
  75. "Mitchel Names His City Helpers — Henry Bruere City Chamberlain, Adamson Fire Commissioner, as Predicted — Several Men Hold Over — John T. Featherson, Recognized National Expert, to Clean the Streets — Miss Davis Commissioner — Republicans Get Many Places, Progressives Two, Independent Democrats the Rest". The New York Times. January 1, 1914. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  76. "Robert Adamson, Ex-Fire Head, Dies — Commissioner Under Mitchel Had Been Secretary to Gaynor, Then Kline — Collapses in His Office — Former Banker and Reporter an Editor at 20 — Cut Losses and Raised Firemen's Pay". The New York Times. September 20, 1935. p. 21. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  77. "Named By Hylan For Big City Posts — Alfred J. Johnson, City Chamberlain, Has Prominent Wall Street Connections — Many Veterans Appointed - Bird S. Coler, W.P. Burr, N.J. Hayes, J.A. Cantor, and Arthur Murphy All on the List". The New York Times. January 2, 1918. p. 3. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  78. "T.J. Drennan Dies From Heart Attack — Commissioner of Jurors of Kings County Stricken While Sitting With His Family — Aide of John H. McCooey — District Leader Was Fire Commissioner During Both of Hylan's Administrations". The New York Times. July 16, 1928. p. 19. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  79. "J.J. Dorman Named Fire Commissioner — Brooklyn Man's Selection Is a Surprise in Political Circles — A Victory For McCooey — Choice Is Seen as a Harmony Move Inspired by Coming Elections — Salary For Job Is $10,000 — T.J. Drennan's Successor Is Head of Kings County Democratic Committee". The New York Times. May 6, 1926. p. 27. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  80. "John Dorman Dies; Headed Fire Force — Commissioner Under Walker "Was Chairman of the Kings Democratic Committee". The New York Times. June 22, 1953. p. 21. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  81. "LaGuardia Moves To Clean Up City; Starts Hunt For Graft In Bureaus; Tammany Organizes The Alderman — Mayor Swears In Aides — Tells Each to Remove 'Every One' if Needed to Get Efficiency — Pledges Them Free Hand — Politicians No Longer Will Interfere With Prisons or Relief, He Says — First Day is Strenuous — New Executive Leaves Home at 8:28 A.M., Does Not Quit City Hall Till 6:30". The New York Times. January 1, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  82. "LaGuardia Fills 3 Cabinet Posts — Moses Heads Park, McElligott Fire Department and Moss License Bureau. 3 Deputies Appointed — Hatch Gets Dock Job, Dr. Shipley Hospital Office — Mrs. R.L. Whitney Is License Aide". The New York Times. January 19, 1934. p. 2. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  83. "M'Elligott, 8 Aides Quit For Pensions; Fought By Mayor — Inquiry Is Ordered — Mustard Named Acting Fire Head in Move to Void Retirements — Mayor Acts by Radio — Out of the City, He Instructs Morris — Firemen Sought Benefits Under Old Law". The New York Times. February 24, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  84. "Elmer Mustard Is Stricken Here — He Held Post of Acting Fire Commissioner for Four Days After McElligott Resigned — Voided Recent Pensions — Mayor Holds Deputy Who Had Served Department 39 Years 'Died in the Line of Duty". The New York Times. March 2, 1940. p. 13. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  85. "Mustard Cancels Retirement Order — McElligott and Six Officers of the Fire Department Are Affected by New Move — Due To Be On Duty Today — Deputy Chief Heffernan Says 'I'm Retired, and I'll Stay Retired' — Defies Mayor". The New York Times. February 27, 1940. p. 27. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  86. "John J. M'Elligott Dies In Hospital, 64; Fire Department Veteran Was First to Be Commissioner and Chief at One Time — In Former Post 7 Years — Ousted by La Guardia in 1941, He Then Joined Todd Corp. — Won Many Citations". The New York Times. September 7, 1946. p. 15. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  87. "M'elligott Ousted With Chief Deputy Over Graft Trials — Walsh Gets Post — Acting Chief Promoted — He Will Take Over Duties Tomorrow — Mayor Sees 'Whitewash' — Calls McKenna Lax in Petty Racket Case, Holds Superior Liable but Voices Regret". The New York Times. May 9, 1941. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  88. "P.J. Walsh Is Dead; Former Fire Chief — Successor to McElligott Served Also as Commissioner — 44 Years in Department". The New York Times. September 22, 1946. p. 62. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  89. "O'Dwyer Names 18 As Aides, Warning: 'Make Good Or Go — Gives His Commissioners and Bureau Heads 3 Months to Meet 'Team' Requirements — Sees Grave Tasks Ahead — Financial, Housing, School and Transit Problems Among the Most Urgent, He Declares". The New York Times. December 31, 1945. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  90. "Frank J. Quayle is Dead at 79; Fire Commissioner in the '40s — Democratic Leader Had Also Been Sheriff of Kings and Brooklyn Postmaster". The New York Times. June 23, 1971. p. 48. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
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  94. 1 2 "Monaghan Sworn As Head Of Police — Promotion of 9 to Lieutenants His Last Act in Retiring as Fire Commissioner". The New York Times. July 10, 1951. p. 23. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
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