New York fire chiefs charged in bribery scheme

Five fire chiefs accused of taking bribes from developers

Five New York City fire chiefs have been charged with bribery in a scheme to expedite permits for developers, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday. The complaint alleges that the chiefs took bribes from developers to speed up the approval process for permits for new buildings and renovations.

The charges are the latest in a series of scandals that have rocked the New York City Fire Department in recent years. In 2018, former Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro was convicted of corruption charges for accepting bribes from a real estate developer. And in 2019, two other fire chiefs were arrested for allegedly taking bribes from a developer to expedite permits for a luxury high-rise building in Manhattan.

The complaint alleges that the five chiefs took bribes ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 from developers.

In exchange for the bribes, the chiefs allegedly expedited the approval process for permits, sometimes issuing permits for buildings that did not meet safety codes. The complaint also alleges that the chiefs used their positions to pressure building inspectors to approve permits that should have been denied.

The charges against the five chiefs are a serious blow to the reputation of the New York City Fire Department. The department has been under fire in recent years for its handling of corruption scandals and for its response to major fires.

The charges are also a reminder of the importance of ethics and accountability in public service.

Public officials must be held to the highest standards of conduct, and they must be held accountable for any wrongdoing. The charges against the five fire chiefs are a reminder that no one is above the law, and that public officials who engage in corruption will be prosecuted.

Here are the five fire chiefs who have been charged:

• Chief Edward Baggott
• Chief Joseph Cassano
• Chief Michael Fahy
• Chief James Leonard
• Chief Richard Tyler