James E. Leonard

Leonard was the first member of his family to be a member of the FDNY, beginning his career in 1979 in Flatbush, Brooklyn first with Engine 310, then Ladder 174.^[2][5] After spending a year on the "Red Cap" arson street patrol in East New York, Leonard joined Ladder 85 in Staten Island in 1987.^[8] Leonard quickly promoted to lieutenant two years later and was assigned to Ladder 168 in Brooklyn. Eventually, he promoted to Battalion Chief in 1996, and soon after became Deputy Chief in 2002.^[9] Before becoming Fire Chief, Leonard was appointed Deputy Assistant Chief in 2010 and served as Brooklyn Borough Commander.^[8][1]

Leonard was known as "Jekyll and Hyde" for his "abrasive and aggressive" conduct and a "tendency to shout at and berate others".^[10] That conduct would also turn into "bullying and screaming" towards subordinates and co-workers.^[11] Leonard also displayed a consistent pattern of sexism and misogyny, including use of misogynistic slurs and a notable instance of hostility towards a popular FDNY chaplain - a lesbian woman, right after the 2015 Gay Pride Parade.^[10]

Leonard's behavior made for a dysfunctional working environment, and his prejudice would ultimately lead to the discrimination of his civilian counterpart in the department, First Deputy Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. As the highest-ranking member of the uniformed branch of the department, Leonard ordered top-level chiefs to not interact with the administrative branch - to not speak with Kavanagh or her subordinates. Uniformed officers had to find ways to work surreptitiously with non-uniformed administrators.^[11]

Leonard was relieved from his duties in December 2018, following misconduct charges. He officially retired from the department on February 15, 2019.^[12]