§ 130. Commissioner of public safety; appointees. The commissioner of
public safety shall be the head of the department of public safety. He
may appoint, to hold office during his pleasure, a deputy, a health
officer and a superintendent of buildings. Whenever a vacancy occurs in
the office of the chief of police or chief of the fire department, the
commissioner of public safety, shall appoint, in his discretion, a
person deemed by him to be suitable and competent to fill the same. The
chief of police and chief of the fire department shall each hold office
during good behavior, or until permanently incapacitated or unfit to
discharge his duties. The commissioner may appoint such other
subordinates as may be prescribed by the board of estimate and
apportionment to hold office, except as otherwise provided by law,
during his pleasure. In case of the absence or disability of the
commissioner or a vacancy in the office, the deputy shall discharge the
duties of the office until the commissioner returns, his disability
ceases or the vacancy is filled. Before entering upon the discharge of
the duties of their respective offices, the commissioner, deputy, health
officer, superintendent of buildings, chief of police and chief of the
fire department shall each execute and file with the city clerk an
official undertaking in such penal sum as may be prescribed by the
common council.