From the Chicago Tribune online
Daley appoints veteran firefighter as fire commissioner
Newly appointed Chicago Fire commissioner Robert Hoff. Larry Shapiro photo
Daley appoints third-generation hero firefighter to lead department
Posted at 02:40:36 PM in Mayor of Chicago
Posted by John Byrne at 2:40 p.m.; last updated at 5:05 p.m.
Mayor Richard Daley today appointed fire department veteran Robert Hoff as the city fire commissioner. said he hopes to continue the strong recent cross-training programs and level of professionalism for firefighters he said have made the Chicago Fire Department among the best-prepared in the country.
“In addition to his bravery, he is a great administrator and leader,” Daley said.
Hoff, the department’s first deputy commissioner since 2008, has been with the department for 33 years, Daley said at a City Hall news conference. Hoff is a third generation firefighter.He replaces John Brooks, who told city officials last month that he is retiring. The sudden notice came months after the city began looking into allegations that a sexual harassment complaint against Brooks was swept under the rug. Daley appointed Brooks in July 2008. He was the second African-American to lead the department.
Hoff has twice been awarded the Carter Harrison Award, the department’s highest honor for bravery. In 1992, he was given the award for rescuing elderly residents from burning buildings following a gas explosion. And in 1997, he saved four-year-old twin boys from an Englewood building fire.
He spent 21 days in a burn unit after suffering injuries in a 1984 fire.
Hoff said he was drawn to a job with the Chicago Fire Department after his father, Chicago Fire Department battalion chief Thomas Hoff, died in 1962 at age 44 in a building collapse.
“That’s all I ever wanted in my life was to be a firefighter,” Hoff said.
Hoff, 54, was the incident commander for the fire department’s deployment to New York City in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks, and to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, the mayor said.
