New York City Fire Department Commissioner Robert Tucker announced his resignation on Wednesday, a day after Zohran Mamdani emerged victorious in the city's mayoral race.
Tucker's departure, effective December 19, concludes a 16-month tenure that began with his appointment by Mayor Eric Adams in August 2024, as reported by the Daily Caller. The department has not provided a specific reason for his resignation.
His exit coincides with controversy surrounding Mamdani's connections to pro-Palestinian activists and allegations of insufficient condemnation of antisemitism, as well as a broader post-election reorganization at City Hall, according to Bloomberg.
In a statement to Newsmax, Tucker expressed, It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the 35th New York City Fire Commissioner. Between now and then, I will continue to lead the greatest fire department in the world and will ensure an orderly transition.
Mamdani, a 34-year-old assemblyman from Queens, secured victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in Tuesday's election and is slated to assume office on January 1.
Tucker, who previously served as a security executive and FDNY Foundation board member, was appointed in 2024 to stabilize the department following Laura Kavanagh's tumultuous tenure. Politico noted at the time that union leaders appreciated his political and administrative expertise despite his lack of firefighting experience.
Reports from various outlets on Wednesday indicated that Tucker's resignation was submitted "first thing" in the morning. The New York Post added that he plans to return to the private security firm he led before his tenure at City Hall. Notably, Tucker's statement did not attribute his resignation to the recent election outcomes.
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