24 join ranks of Fire Department

By John Howell
Posted 11/24/16

In a ceremony filled with pageantry, the largest class of firefighter recruits in the city's history took the oath of office Tuesday night before the packed grand ballroom of the Crowne Plaza. The class of 24 recruits gives the department

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

24 join ranks of Fire Department

Posted

In a ceremony filled with pageantry, the largest class of firefighter recruits in the city’s history took the oath of office Tuesday night before the packed grand ballroom of the Crowne Plaza.

The class of 24 recruits gives the department a complement of 208 firefighters, eight more than budgeted. The added personnel will dramatically reduce the overtime costs that continue to plague the department, filling ranks depleted by retirements and firefighters on sick leave, Chief James McLaughlin said.

Team service and family were key themes to the evening, which concluded with family members pinning badges on the recruits. The Rhode Island Professional Firefighters Pipe & Drum Corps, in full regalia, preceded the retirement of the colors.

“By all accounts, all 24 of you have demonstrated true teamwork throughout the past 18 weeks,” McLaughlin said. “Not only have you received tonight the opportunity to have the greatest and most rewarding career in the world, but you also have a second family with over 200 brothers and sisters.”

Mayor Scott Avedisian spoke of how interconnected the community is, focusing on the family of recruit Nikolas DeGiulio and how he has come to know so many of the family since his childhood.

“I expect great things from each and every one of you. Welcome to our family,” Avedisian said.

The recruits, who included one woman, Victoria Bellavance, completed a rigorous training academy directed by Deputy Chief Thomas Maymon and Captain Paul Letourneau. The audience heard a description of the training from recruit Matthew Burke, who placed first in the class. He said the stress, chaos and hardship forged friendships and taught them “if we couldn’t do the little things right, we couldn’t do the big things right.” Burke thanked his mentors and said to his classmates, “it’s time to do our job…we pray that on their [the public’s] worst day we will have our best day.”

Chief McLaughlin thanked the mayor and the City Council for their support, saying the department has up-to-date and dependable equipment to do the job effectively and safely. Alluding to the sometimes lengthy questioning over department expenditures, McLaughlin said of the council, “They always ask very detailed and well researched questions because that is their job, which I respect.”

Department expenditures were spotlighted as recently as Monday night, during the public comment portion of the City Council meeting. Citizen Rob Cote again called for an investigation into the practice of substitution and payment for unused sick time. Cote said that in the first quarter the department spent $886,000 on overtime, 66 percent of its overtime budget.

In comments following the ceremony, McLaughlin said the newest members of the department would have a “positive effect on overtime.” He attributed the high rate of overtime expenditures in the first quarter to it being the summer months, peak time for vacations.

Asked about the larger complement of firefighters than budgeted, Avedisian said Wednesday, “It does not make sense to pay the additional eight firefighters unemployment when we can utilize the extras to float and reduce the cost of the overtime budget.”

In his public comments, McLaughlin told recruits they are well trained, urging them to use good habits for their own sake as well as that of their families. “Bad habits kill firefighters.”

While thanking the class for voluntarily participating in events such as the Gloria Gemma 5K, the department’s annual fire safety day, National Night Out, the hazardous material drill at Green Airport and a number of other community activities, McLaughlin also reminded them they are on a one-year probation.

“Whether on duty or off, behavior that is detrimental to this fire department and/or the city won’t be tolerated and will result in immediate dismissal…the people of this city are your customers and they are always to be treated with the highest level of professionalism and courtesy. The safety of the public, your fellow firefighters and yourself should always be priority number one throughout your careers.”

McLaughlin said the event and dinner was completely paid for by the recruits.

Those sworn into office are: Paul Alexander, Victoria Bellavance, Matthey Burke, Steven Cahoon Jr., Matthew Cavanagh, Michael Colantonio, Brandon Colombo, Kevin Conway, Matthew DeCubellis, Nikolas DeGiulio, Christopher Famiglietti, Kevin Hayes, Matthew Jarbeau, Ryan Jarvis, Andrew Kazarian, Austin LeDoux, Michael Loignon, Shane Lindell, Christopher Milewski, Thomas Pacheco III, NicholasParente, Michael Rayta and Justin Sweeney.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here