In 1993 Von Essen was elected as President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association representing the department's firefighters: he served in that post until his appointment as the department's 30th Fire Commissioner.
In 1993 Von Essen was elected as President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association representing the department's firefighters. Giuliani rewarded Von Essen's treachery by appointing him as the department's 30th Fire Commissioner.