"I asked Nick Scoppetta to lead the Fire Department at the most difficult time in its history, after the Fire Department had suffered the loss of 343 members -and thousands more with valuable experience were retiring. The FDNY needed to rebuild by hiring and training thousands of new firefighters while simultaneously improving its equipment, technology and training so it could save more lives and prepare for new threats facing our City.

"The Department's performance under Scoppetta's leadership has been remarkable: the City has experienced the fewest fire deaths on record, and our firefighters and EMS personnel are getting to fires and medical emergencies faster than ever. The FDNY has never been better trained and prepared to handle any emergency, including terrorism.

"Nick Scoppetta has served nearly every Mayor since John Lindsay, giving 47 years of public service to New York City. He has served boldly, graciously and with an enduring love for the City that gave him an opportunity to thrive against the odds and give back many times in return.

"I can think of few public servants with such longevity and dedication. His almost five decades of public service have spanned positions from Assistant District Attorney to Deputy Mayor. He was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District, a member of the Knapp Commission, and the City's Commissioner of Investigation. He also served as an investigator for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and then was the first Commissioner of the Administration for Children's Services.

"Nick Scoppetta has always been a person that you can turn to in a crisis.  When the City's child welfare system was in systemic failure, Mayor Rudy Giuliani turned to him to fix it.  And when the FDNY needed someone to oversee its recovery after 9/11, I couldn't think of anyone more qualified for the job. As he embarks on plans to teach and write, I thank him and wish him well."