OAKLAND (BCN)--A badge-pinning ceremony is being held  Thursday for Oakland's  recently appointed Fire Chief Teresa Deloach Reed and Police Chief Howard  Jordan.

     

Reed is the first woman to head the fire department in its  142-year history, and is the first black woman in the U.S. to lead a major  metropolitan fire department.

     

She comes to Oakland from San Jose, where she started her career  as a firefighter in 1986 and rose through the ranks to the position of  assistant chief.

     

In a statement issued before today's ceremony, which is being held  in the Rotunda Building at Frank Ogawa Plaza, Reed said, "It's an honor to be  part of Oakland's public safety family."

     

Jordan has been with the Oakland Police Department for 24 years.  Most recently, he served as assistant chief and interim chief.

     

The ceremony was slated to include participation by Oakland police  Assistant Chief Anthony Toribio, Deputy Chief Sean Whent and other members of  the police and fire departments.

     

City Administrator Deanna Santana said, "This ceremony is an  important recognition of the accomplishments of both police and fire  personnel. The appointments of the two chiefs provide stability to the city's  public safety organizations at this critical time."

     

The ceremony was scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to noon. 

 

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