Daniel Nigro Sworn In As New FDNY Commissioner
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The FDNY officially has a new leader.
Daniel Nigro was sworn in as the 33rd commissioner of the department Monday.
The 32-year department veteran, who is coming out of retirement after 12 years, arrived to his swearing-in ceremony at FDNY headquarters in Brooklyn riding on Engine 21, the same truck he started out on in 1969, 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported.
"This is a great day for this department because the torch has been passed from a great leader to the next great leader," said Mayor Bill de Blasio, who also called Nigro a "battle-tested leader."
Nigro replaces Sal Cassano, who served as commissioner from 2010 up until last week.
Nigro takes over after a bruising diversity lawsuit and sharp union criticism over the unified call center.
The new commissioner pledged to diversify what he called the "greatest fire department in the world."
"We're surrounded by diversity," Nigro said. "And this diverse population employs us to protect them. We have taken steps to improve our diversity. We must and we will do better."
Nigro said the theme for his tenure as fire commissioner is "the time is now," WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported.
De Blasio said he is committed to Nigro and the fire department.
"You will notice we just put out a municipal budget that does not lay a finger on a single firehouse because we think we need them," the mayor said to an applause.
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