The New York Fire Department has found a replacement for its first female fire chief, Laura Kavanagh after she resigned due to a series of scandals.
Robert Tucker, CEO of T&M USA, was named as Kavanagh's replacement by Mayor Eric Adams on Monday and has already been sworn in.
Robert S. Tucker's very first job as a young man was working at the @FDNY communications office.
Today, he becomes the 35th commissioner of New York's Bravest — a real full-circle moment!
Commissioner Tucker brings decades of experience in protecting public safety to this role,… pic.twitter.com/5TTZQrySCJ
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) August 12, 2024
Adams' announcement on X noted that Tucker's first job was in the FDNY's communication office.
A key part of Kavanagh's downfall was her investigation of some of her subordinates for heckling New York Attorney General Letitia James over her prosecution of former President Donald Trump.
FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens later emailed department leaders that those who heckled her would be found out.
“BITS is investigating this, so they will figure out who the members are,” Hodges wrote.
“I recommend they come forward. I have been told by the commissioner it will be better for them if they come forward and we don’t have to hunt them down,” he warned.
A retired firefighter told the New York Post that the firefighters did not appreciate being "hunted down."
“It was a political stunt for the city to have the AG there. When it backfired, they sent their fascist pit bulls after guys for exercising their First Amendment rights,” he said. “Most were off-duty and not in FDNY uniform.”
But FDNY backed down after hearing that the rank and file felt like they were being hunted down.
Spokesman Jim Long later told Fox News that “nobody is hunting anyone down.”
“We’re looking into those who clearly broke department regulations. It has nothing to do with politics. It’s about professionalism at an official event held in a house of worship,” he said.
She was replaced soon after.
