The Buffalo Fire Department has lost it second deputy commissioner in two months with the resignation of Kevin D. Peterson, who is dropping back into the union ranks as he prepares to retire from the department.
Peterson, 49, confirmed on Wednesday he is no longer a deputy and that he voluntarily reverted to his civil service rank of battalion chief. The 29-year Fire Department veteran said he plans to retire in six months, and will qualify for a better retirement package as a unionized battalion chief than if he remained an appointed deputy commissioner.
As a member of the firefighters’ union, Local 282, Peterson upon retirement will qualify for accrued sick time and vacation days benefits that he would not receive as a political appointee. By remaining six months, he’ll qualify for a better benefits package than if he leaves sooner, he said.
“To qualify for the benefits, I need a certain amount of time I must come back to 282,” he said, referring to the firefighters union.
Peterson joined the department in 1987. He was appointed deputy in April 2014.