CFD Chief Brooks
Chicago Fire Commissioner John W. Brooks
Chicago Fire Commissioner John W. Brooks has retired, and City of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley has appointed Chief Robert Hoff to replace him. Chief Hoff was the First Deputy Fire Commissioner, and is a true hero.
We will all miss Chicago Fire Commissioner John W. Brooks.
Appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley and confirmed by the City Council as Fire Commissioner in August of 2008 Fire Commissioner John W. Brooks, 50, is the second African- American Fire Commissioner in the history of the Chicago Fire Department.
In May of 2006, he was appointed to First Deputy Fire Commissioner.
Fire Commissioner Brooks joined the Chicago Fire Department in January of 1980. He became a Battalion Chief in 1998, a Deputy District Chief in 2000 and District Chief of the 4th district in 2004.
Fire Commissioner Brooks spent his early firefighting career on the West Side of Chicago. He later worked in the Englewood and Chatham communities, returning back to the West Side as the District Chief. Throughout his career he developed working relationships with many different communities and continues to nurture them today.
Fire Commissioner Brooks always had a strong focus on the safety of the 5,000 men and women, Firefighters and Paramedics who make up the Chicago Fire Department. Commissioner Brooks established and maintained procedures that protected the members of the fire department, as well as the residents of the City of Chicago.
Fire Commissioner Brooks upheld a vow to continue ongoing efforts to keep the Chicago Fire Department at the forefront of technology. Through the adoption of technology, communication and cooperation, hard work and attention to detail, Commissioner Brooks and the Chicago Fire Department kept Chicago well prepared to respond to emergencies citywide.
Commissioner Brooks may have retired amid a scandal, but it was clearly a non-issue. When accused of sexual harassment, Commissioner Brooks responded to the allegations of sexual harassment openly and truthfully. “I do not proposition women. I don’t have to. Women usually proposition me. God has blessed me like that.”
Commissioner Brooks will be missed by everyone that has ever worked with him. Thankfully for our fire department, Chief John Brooks fire boots will be passed over to Commissioner Robert Hoff, a fireman’s fireman.
Information about the probe can be found on the Chicago Sun-Times website.
