NJ Fire Director Steps Down after Two Years

Derrick Sawyer, the city of Trenton’s fire director for just shy of two years, has resigned, Mayor Reed Gusciora said late Thursday.

Sawyer, a longtime firefighter in Philadelphia who served as fire commissioner there for two years until 2016, sailed through confirmation proceedings to helm the Trenton Fire Department in late 2018.

But Gusciora said Sawyer grew frustrated with the city council’s, “constant push back on anything that would move the city forward.”

The mayor would not comment on Sawyer’s immediate future plans.

Firefighters say word in the department is that he’s taken a job in the Philadelphia area.

Gusciora has had a contentious relationship with the council on a variety of matters, and his department directors attend their regular meetings.

“Director Sawyer puts in 12 to 14-hour days, then has to attend sometimes seven-hour council meetings twice a week,” the mayor said. “I don’t think it’s something he signed up for.”

Gusciora said he’s sad to see Sawyer go, that the city is losing a highly-educated fire professional who moved the department forward, and skillfully advocated for its members.

And most importantly, as the city’s emergency management coordinator, he was integral to the city’s ongoing response to the coronavirus epidemic, Gusciora said.

“He’ll be extremely hard to replace,” the mayor said.

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