JERSEY CITY – The city’s first African-American fire chief will be sworn in this coming Friday at a 10 a.m. ceremony in City Hall.
Darren Rivers is currently serving as chief in a provisional capacity. He will take over for former chief Michael O’Reilly. who retired on Sept. 1.
The ceremony will be followed by a dinner at Puccini’s Restaurant on West Side Avenue.
Rivers said on Monday that he was a “bit nervous” about giving a speech the day of his swearing in. Otherwise, the 28-year fire department veteran is looking forward to taking on the new role.
“I welcome the challenge that my new job will bring,” Rivers said. – Ricardo Kaulessar