San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie named Battalion Chief Dean Crispen as the city’s new fire chief on Friday.
Lurie, who was sworn in as mayor on Wednesday, had a vacancy to lead the San Francisco Fire Department after former Chief Jeanine Nicholson retired in August. Sandra Tong served as interim chief before Crispen’s selection as the new permanent chief.
Crispen has been with SFFD for 34 years and is the 27th chief in the department’s history, according to the mayor’s office. He has been a captain at firehouses in Chinatown, North Beach and the South of Market neighborhood and is known for his courage in rescuing people from fires in the Tenderloin, Lurie’s office said.
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He was also part of the SFFD’s response to New York City to assist in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
“Chief Crispen will lead the San Francisco Fire Department with the same compassion, integrity and unwavering dedication that have defined his entire career,” Lurie said in a statement. “Whether he is a first responder, an advocate for underserved populations or a leader who promotes collaboration, he has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to meet challenges with both strength and empathy.”
Crispen is a native of San Francisco, whose father is a retired SFFD Arson Squad captain and whose mother immigrated to the U.S. from Nicaragua at age 12, the mayor’s office said.
“My primary goal as chief of the department is to protect the health and safety of all members of the San Francisco Fire Department and all San Franciscans,” Crispen said in a statement. “We are implementing Mayor Lurie’s vision for a safer and cleaner San Francisco and will continue to work with other departments to ensure citizens receive the best public safety services.”
