Syracuse residents learned Tuesday that Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick has defended the termination of his chief assistant, Rob Moran, alleging Moran broke office trust by talking about a possible 2027 campaign with other prosecutors. The firing, announced in early March, has ignited a debate over leadership and political ambition within the county’s top law‑enforcement office.
According to CNY Central, Fitzpatrick, who has led the district attorney’s office since 1992, said the issue was not Moran’s mere consideration of a run but the manner in which he raised the subject. “I’m sorry you just announced you’re running against me. That’s the problem,” Fitzpatrick was quoted as saying. He added that employees have an obligation to bring concerns directly to their superior, a step Moran allegedly skipped.
Moran, who served as chief assistant district attorney and has prosecuted high‑profile cases such as the 2023 Daquan Sullivan drive‑by shooting, contested the DA’s assessment. In a phone interview, Moran said he gave an “honest answer which was thinking about it, and that was grounds to fire me immediately.” He expressed a desire to discuss his political plans face‑to‑face with Fitzpatrick, claiming the DA “wasn’t interested.”
The dispute also highlighted broader criticisms of Fitzpatrick’s leadership style. Moran accused the longtime DA of being “frequently unavailable,” arguing that the reliance on text messages has hampered office operations. “There is and has been a failure of leadership on the top. And it starts with him,” Moran said.
Fitzpatrick, however, reaffirmed his commitment to the office and to victims of crime, noting that he considered retirement but chose to seek another term because of the importance of his prosecutorial work. He indicated that, if re‑elected in 2027, he would serve through 2031, marking nearly four decades in the role.
Moran announced his intention to run as a Democrat in the 2027 general election, setting the stage for a potential challenge to Fitzpatrick’s decades‑long tenure. The firing has created a public divide, with some community members questioning the DA’s decision‑making while others view the action as a necessary enforcement of office protocol.
What’s next: The dispute is expected to influence the upcoming 2027 district‑attorney race. Both Fitzpatrick and Moran are expected to file campaign paperwork later this year, and the office’s internal policies on political discussions may come under further scrutiny at the next county board meeting scheduled for early November.
Sources: cnycentral.com
