Pittsburgh Fire Chief Darryl Jones to retire after review of bureau's management
Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Chief Darryl Jones, who was placed on paid administrative leave in June, will retire after a review of the bureau's financial, operational and administrative management, Mayor Corey O'Connor announced on Wednesday.
Jones, who has been Pittsburgh's fire chief for nearly 20 years, will retire on Sept. 16, the mayor's office said.
Sources tell KDKA the city put Jones on paid leave last month and commenced an internal probe after he failed to file required financial disclosure forms, raising questions about his outside employment. In addition to serving as chief, he has taught at the National Fire Academy in Maryland. The inquiry also looked at management issues, including the bureau's overtime costs.
Jones also served as the city's emergency management coordinator but was absent during last year's big April storm. In an interview with KDKA, he conceded he failed to notify city leaders as required by code.
O'Connor called Jones a "good man" in a statement and thanked him for his service, but said he believes it's time for new leadership.
"When I took office, I promised the people of Pittsburgh that I would thoroughly review all city departments," O'Connor's statement said. "After a comprehensive review of the oversight of finances and operations of the Fire Bureau, I believe that it's in the best interest of the city to move forward under new leadership."
In a statement, Jones thanked Pittsburghers for letting him serve, and said, "This is not the end of my career, it is just the end of a chapter. Time to turn the page."
Pittsburgh firefighters union president Ralph Sicuro also issued a statement, thanking Jones for his service and acknowledging O'Connor's "authority" to appoint a new chief for his administration.
Jones has been a firefighter since the '80s, and he became Pittsburgh's first Black fire chief in 2007. Before that, he spent 20 years with Aliquippa's fire department, including 12 years as chief there.
Assistant Chief Mathew Davis, who has been serving as acting chief since Jones was placed on leave, will continue in that position until a permanent replacement is named, O'Connor's office said.
