[1] After growing up in the Bronx and Long Island, the son of Russian Jewish immigrant parents (his father was a presser in the garment district, his mother a switchboard operator), Safir followed the example of his famous uncle Louis Weiner (who captured infamous bank robber Willie Sutton), and after graduating from college in 1963, decided to become a lawman.

[citation needed] Safir began his law enforcement career in 1965 as a special agent assigned to the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, a forerunner of the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) and eventually, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Safir rejoined government service in 1994 when Mayor Rudy Giuliani asked him to serve as New York City's 29th Fire Commissioner.

He created model blocks in each borough to prevent eradicated drug dealing from returning and he introduced closed-circuit television to ensure the safety of housing development residents, park visitors, and subway riders.

[citation needed] He developed and implemented Operation Condor, a creative use of personnel resources, that continues to be a centerpiece of current NYPD crime reduction strategy.

[citation needed] Safir served four years as Police Commissioner until he announced his resignation and retirement from government service in 2000.

[1][5] In 2010, Safir allegedly backed his SUV into a pregnant woman who was attempting to cross a street from between parked cars.