Pelosi Statement on Retirement of San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White

"Our firefighters are our nobility, and our city of San Francisco has been strengthened by the leadership of Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White.  Chief Hayes-White has dedicated nearly three decades of her life to serving the people of her beloved San Francisco, and she will be deeply missed when she retires.

"Chief Hayes-White has made history both as the first woman to ever lead the department and as the longest-serving chief of a major city in the country.  She also leaves a powerful legacy for her commitment to ensuring that the department reflects the diversity of our city and for her strong leadership when the SFFD suffered the tragic loss of two of its heroes.  Her visionary leadership has made our city safer, and it has been my great honor to appoint her to the Presidential Public Safety Officers' Medal of Valor Board since 2012.

"Chief Hayes-White has served America with great dignity, dedication and courage.  Paul and I wish her and her family well as she begins the next chapter of her life."