To Stress Training, Safety: McNally to Head FDNY Operations

To Stress Training, Safety
McNally to Head FDNY Operations

By GINGER ADAMS OTIS

Chief Patrick McNally, a 28-year Fire Department veteran, was sworn in as the FDNY's second-ranking officer June 17 at a ceremony presided over by Mayor Bloomberg and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta.

Fire Department Photo A TAKE-CHARGE GUY: Patrick McNally, whom one union official described as hard-driving but personable, says that as FDNY Chief of Operations he will stress training and safety as keys to seasoning a youthful uniformed cadre.

'Like Coming Home'

He took over the Chief of Operations post formerly held by Salvatore Cassano, who was promoted to Chief of Department - the FDNY's top uniformed post - at the same ceremony.

Chief McNally, who for the past year has been in charge of the FDNY's Bureau of Fire Prevention, said returning to Operations "was like coming home. I'm sure I'll be comfortable there."

As Chief of Operations, Mr. McNally will oversee the day-to-day duties and needs of the FDNY's 15,000 members, including the Emergency Medical Service Bureau. Coordinating with his five Borough Commanders, Chief McNally will make decisions on equipment and uniform upgrades and changes, as well as ensuring that field communication procedures and protocols function as planned and, as he described it, "deal with whatever comes up."

He added that he's going to continue initiatives implemented by Chief Cassano and former Chief of Department Peter Hayden, who officially retired from the force the same day.

"Hayden and Cassano were doing a great job and I'm looking to maintain a lot of what they focused on. I'm going to concentrate on training and firefighter safety," said Chief McNally. "We do have a fairly young work force; the department did hire a lot of people post 9-11. Probably 40 to 50 percent has less than five years' experience. But training and safety can counter that."

The Flushing, Queens native grew up in a civil-service household. His father was a Sergeant in the Police Department for 35 years, and Chief McNally, after getting a Bachelor's Degree from John Jay College, considered a similar career.

"I did take the police exam, but at the time, in the mid-70s, with the fiscal crisis and the lay-offs and hiring freezes, it didn't happen," he said. "I took a lot of civil service exams when I got out of college and it turned out that this was the one that called, and I've been very happy."

Chief McNally, preceded by one of his seven siblings, joined the FDNY in 1977. He served predominantly in the South Bronx and Harlem, and over two decades gained the experience and communication skills that made him a shoo-in for the Queens Borough Commander position that opened up in 2002.

A Hands-On Stickler

He has a reputation within the FDNY as a "people person" that is second only to his fame for ferocious efficiency.

"He is very in charge - he takes care of business like that, 1, 2, 3. He'll do well as COO," said Steve Carbone, vice-president of the Uniformed Fire Officers' Association. "At the same time, whenever I have a chance to see him at MetroTech, he always comes over to say hello, and remember when we did this, and we share a lotta laughs." Mr. Carbone served with Chief McNally and his brother Kevin, now a retired Captain, in the South Bronx for many years. He was working out of Engine Company 50 and Ladder 19; the two brothers were in neighboring Engine 71 and Ladder 55.

"Back then there were a lot fires and The Bronx was pretty run down," Mr. Carbone remarked. "We ran together from call to call, and got the opportunity to know each other under some trying circumstances. He was a really great guy then, and he still is now. He'll do great things for the department."

Because the Chief of Operations oversees how procedures are established and maintained in the firehouses - areas where the UFOA sometimes voices concerns about changes that could affect its members - Mr. Carbone anticipates future dealings with Chief McNally.

'Nice Way of Saying No'

"I look forward to it. He's not going to give the store away, but he'll make you feel good while he's telling you no," Mr. Carbone chuckled. "Sal [Cassano] was also a great Chief of Operations, and I wish him all the luck in the world as the Chief of Department - it's a hard job, but I think it will come easy to him."

Chief McNally brings with him extensive administrative experience that he learned over the past two years as the Assistant Chief in charge of the Bureau of Fire Prevention.

In that capacity, he oversaw the work of more than 350 civilian and uniformed staff responsible for enforcement of city fire codes. He was also the principal FDNY official who helped develop two major citywide initiatives: the creation of an Emergency Action Plan for building evacuations in non-fire emergencies, and the Building and Fire Code Revision project.

Under his leadership, the Fire Prevention Bureau generated $42 million in code violations and other revenues last year.

"It was a completely new experience for me, I had a lot of help from civilian employees in the department, some of whom had been there 20 years or so," Chief McNally said. "It exposed me to administrative things that I had not yet seen in the field. And it was an odd period of time - we had to revise the building code, which is only done every 30 or 40 years, so it involved a lot of hearings with the City Council and other agencies." In explaining his management style, he said, "I try to listen. I think that helps in any position you have."