Hallie Lauer

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

(TNS)

Nearly three months after Pittsburgh Fire Chief Daryl Jones said he would retire amid an internal investigation, the city officially has a new leader for the bureau.

Mat Davis, who has been serving as acting fire chief, was officially appointed as the full-time chief Friday.

Davis has been a firefighter since 2004, when he started with the Dormont Fire Department. He served as their fire chief from 2017 until 2023, when he joined Pittsburgh’s fire bureau as the assistant chief of community risk reduction.

He has also worked part-time with the North Strabane and Swissvale fire departments.

Jones, who announced in July that his final day would be Sept. 16, had been placed on leave for about a month before he decided to retire. He had been the city’s fire chief since 2007. Davis was named acting chief in June when Jones’ leave began.

The former chief had been the subject of an internal investigation that was not criminal but pertained to management and bureau operations, according to a source not authorized to speak publicly about the inquiry. No further information about the investigation has been released.

In addition to Davis’ promotion, Mayor Corey O’Connor also announced Friday afternoon that Rea Price, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Sylvia Harris, acting director of Innovation & Performance, would move into their roles full time.

Price has worked on and off in the city’s budgeting department and as the deputy director for City Council’s budget office since 2006. Prior to joining the O’Connor administration in January, she had been working as the capital budget manager for Pittsburgh Water.

OMB, which is tasked with creating and maintaining Pittsburgh’s budget, has been at the center of the administration’s efforts to set the city on a sustainable financial path. When O’Connor released his first proposed budget this week, he said the city was in danger of running out of money in five years unless major changes are made.

Harris, who will be leading the department that oversees the city’s technology infrastructure and digital services, has worked for the city for 18 years in a variety of IT roles. She helped create the city’s cybersecurity program, according to an announcement from the mayor’s office.

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