Firefighting academy renamed after former leader who always held his trainees to high standards

The Boston Public Facilities Commission voted today to rename the Moon Island academy that all Boston firefighters have to pass through as the Capt. Leo T. Sullivan Training Academy, after its long-time leader, who retired in 1996 and died this year.

BFD Commissioner Paul Burke and Mayor Wu requested the change. At a hearing this morning, Burke said Sullivan was "a drill instructor," but one who cared about the probationary firefighters under his tutelage:

He did not use a curse word when he trained anybody, he was that type of gentleman, that had a high standard that we all had to rise to to become firefighters.

Even after retiring, Sullivan would return to Moon Island with a group of fellow retired firefighters to help out, Burke added.

Sullivan lived in Quincy's Squantum, not far from the training facility that will now bear his name, although he was a Charlestown native.

The commission approved the name change unanimously.

Watch the hearing: