Floyd's dismissal was part of the city's broader strategy to reallocate funds to address the escalating migrant crisis, a move that has left his bereaved family grappling with financial instability.
Floyd was among approximately ten FDNY employees who were relieved of their duties in the weeks leading up to Christmas. These individuals had been on "long-term duty," either due to injuries sustained on the job that had relegated them to office work or extended sick leave, according to FDNY sources.
A decorated veteran, Floyd had served three tours in the Middle East with the Marines before joining the FDNY. Following a heart attack in 2019 during his time at the Fire Academy, he was assigned to a desk job in the fire department chaplain's office. Here, Floyd, who was on modified duty, was instrumental in organizing the funerals of fallen FDNY members.
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Floyd, a devoted father to two young children, was in the process of obtaining medical clearance to rejoin the firefighting force when he was dismissed. His termination occurred just before he could secure additional medical benefits for his family and over $600,000 in death benefits, leaving his family without financial support despite his years of service.
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Cristine, Floyd's 34-year-old widow, shared her family's ordeal with The Post. "I wouldn't wish it on anyone," she said. "I think it definitely took a toll once they let him go. He always tried to, like, stay positive about it, and he wasn't really angry. But you see a person, and the wheels are turning in their brain where they're just constantly thinking, so I definitely think it did affect us."
Post-termination, Floyd secured employment with a nonprofit organization assisting veterans. However, the remuneration was significantly lower than his FDNY salary, the benefits were limited, and the demanding hours impeded his ability to spend time with his children.
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Cristine lamented the impact of Floyd's dismissal on their family. "Being a firefighter was something he was really passionate about. He was really a big-time, like, family person, he was all about his kids. If Derek would have stayed on, he would have had a life insurance policy with the FDNY. That would have helped out financially because right now, it's really bad. I’m honestly swimming in a lot of debt.”
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Floyd's dismissal was part of a larger plan by City Hall to reduce the FDNY budget by $74 million by the end of 2025 to accommodate migrant spending. The exact number of "long-term duty" staff to be dismissed as part of this initiative remains uncertain, but typically, between 800 and 1,000 individuals hold this designation at any given time.
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The New York Police Department (NYPD) is also facing budget cuts, with a projected reduction of $132 million through the cancellation of five upcoming Police Academy classes. The city Department of Education and the Department of Sanitation are set to lose about $547 million and $32 million, respectively.
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Floyd's termination and the subsequent hardships faced by his family have sparked outrage. Andrew Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighter Association, criticized the decision. "What disturbs me the most is that the FDNY is understaffed by hundreds of firefighters. Terminating [Floyd] was absolutely unnecessary. He had an important job, and the FDNY actually needed him in that unit. He was terminated so the department could prove that they were making cuts. He deserved better,” Ansbro said.
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Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh expressed her condolences over Floyd's passing and pledged to explore all financial, legal, and legislative options to support his family. "We are heartbroken over the passing of former Probationary Firefighter Derek Floyd, and will explore all financial, legal and legislative options to help his family and ensure they have the support they need during this time,” Kavanagh said.
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