New Philly fire commissioner to take over on June 14

Philadelphia will soon have a new fire commissioner.

Deputy Commissioner Derrick Sawyer will take over from Commissioner Lloyd Ayers who is retiring after 40 years on the job. 

“To the members of the community, I vow to you you will continue to receive the same level of service during Commissioner Ayers tenure,” said Sawyer. “To the members of the Philadelphia Fire Department, I vow to serve you with all my heart with all my might and with all my soul.”

Mayor Michael Nutter said while appointing Sawyer to the job, he’s making moves to diversify fire department leadership.

“Dianne Schweitzer who has served this city well and significantly for many many years is in fact the first female Deputy Commissioner of the Philadelphia Fire Department,” Nutter said. “Yolanda Stallings is the first African-American female to serve in an executive chief position Peter Crespo is the first Latino or Hispanic to serve in the Executive Chief position.”

Sawyer will take over on June 14th.