NEW ROCHELLE, NY (June 9, 2026) — City Manager Wilfredo Melendez on Tuesday introduced Joseph Sinatra as the new fire chief and commissioner of the New Rochelle Fire Department, succeeding Andrew Sandor, who announced his retirement last week after nearly four decades of service.
Sinatra joined the New Rochelle Fire Department as a firefighter in August 2004, assigned to Station 3 at 756 North Ave. He was promoted to lieutenant in January 2017 and to captain in May 2020, serving at Station 4 at 155 Drake Ave. In November 2025, he was promoted to deputy chief of support services.
In addition to his departmental service, Sinatra joined the command staff of the Westchester County Career Chief Fire Academy in Valhalla in 2021, became a Westchester County fire instructor in 2022, and was named director of the fire academy in 2023, a position he currently holds.
Sandor, who was appointed chief/commissioner in 2018, offered a brief tribute to his successor at the announcement.
“It’s been a truly an honor and a privilege to serve as fire commissioner and chief for the city,” Sandor said. “I know the department will be in good hands with Chief Sinatra. It’s a good reason to go — good successor.”
Sandor’s retirement is effective June 27.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
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