His fire is gone now.
New York City Deputy Fire Commissioner Joseph Pfeiffer has been fired by new Commissioner Robert Tucker just days after the new commissioner took office, The Washington Post has learned.
Reeder, the police department’s highest-paid officer, making more than $500,000, told colleagues on Friday that he would be forced to step down, soon after the departure of his former boss, former Chief Laura Kavanagh, who had hired him.
“Fire Chief Tucker [informed] “City Hall has informed me that I will be replaced by a new first deputy chief,” Pfeiffer, 68, wrote in a farewell email obtained by The Washington Post.
“It’s been a real pleasure working with you all over the last year and a half, and many of you have been working with me for even longer.”
City officials supported the new commissioners’ decision, mayoral spokeswoman Liz Garcia said.
“As every chairperson before him has done, Chairman Tucker will build a staff that will advance his own and his administration’s vision for the FDNY,” she said.
“Officials will make an announcement when the change in leadership is formalized.”
Pfeiffer served with the department for 37 years until 2018, coming out of retirement last year to work under the FDNY’s first female leader.
He was hired after then-Chief Kavanagh clashed with three top chiefs after demoting them, and her hiring of Pfeiffer was seen as an attempt to ensure that firefighter experience remained at the FDNY’s top echelons.
This made him the top earner, bringing in an astounding $522,000 through his FDNY salary of $242,727 and his legally-earned department pension, which will be $279,304 in fiscal year 2024.
Under Mr. Kavanagh, he managed the day-to-day operations and activities of FDNY offices and the entire bureau.
Sources told The Post that EMS Chief Michael Fields or Battalion Chief Mark Guerra could be named to replace Pfeiffer.
Other changes include the appointment of Luis Martinez, Mayor Cabana’s chief of staff. Martinez, whose appointment angered some veteran fire chiefs and rank-and-file firefighters, will be assigned to City Hall and report to Deputy Mayor Phil Banks, sources said.
Pfeiffer did not respond to a request for comment.
