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UPDATES ON LOCAL 2687 PROMOTIONS AND HIRING:
April 18th, 2022:
Congratulations to Scott Blake, Doug O’Rourke, and Ed Hilbert on your promotions to Lieutenant.
All three were sworn in this morning during a ceremony held in the Rotunda of Memorial Town Hall.
Lieutenant Blake has been assigned to Station 2 on the 1st Platoon.
Lieutenant O’Rourke has been assigned to Station 2 on the 3rd platoon.
Lieutenant Hilbert has been assigned to Station 3 on the 2nd platoon.
We wish you the best of luck in your new positions!
April 8th, 2022- Lieutenants Dave Wood and Dan Such were promoted to Captain, and FF Brian Gilson promoted to Fire Inspector on Wednesday, April 6th. The swearing-in will be held on Monday, April 11th at 10AM in the rotunda of Memorial Town Hall. All are welcome to attend.
March 4 - Captain Kevin (K.P.) Martin and Captain Daryl Osiecki were both sworn in today in a brief ceremony in the rotunda at Hamden's Memorial Town Hall. Scores of department members, on and off-duty, active and retired, attended as the oath was administered by Hamden Town Clerk Karimah Mickens.
In his remarks prior to the swearing-in, Chief Gary Merwede noted, "On Wednesday evening, the Hamden Board of Fire Commissioners appointed two new captains, and I would like to thank the Commission for their diligent and hard work."
The department is rebuilding after the recent retirements of numerous senior battalion chiefs, captains, and lieutenants. "This has certainly been a solid week of progress for the fire department," said the Chief, referring not only to these two promotions, but also to Mayor Lauren Garrett's recent appointment of Jeffrey Naples to the position of Assistant Chief.
Kevin P. Martin was appointed to the department in 2008, and was promoted to lieutenant in 2015. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Connecticut, with a minor in criminal justice, certifications as a Fire Instructor, Fire Officer, Incident Safety Officer, Health and Saferty Officer, and others.
As a lieutenant, Kevin and his crew were commended in 2019 for the ladder rescues of three people at a structure fire on Newhall Street.
Capt. Martin will remain on Platoon 4 at Station 2, assuming the duties of House Captain.
Daryl Osiecki was appointed to the department in 2005, and was also promoted to lieutenant in 2015. With previous fire service before coming to Hamden, Daryl has 29 years' of experience and has completed CFA certifications as Fire Officer 4, Fire Instructor 2, Incident Safety Officer, courses in Safety and Survival, and has attended the National Fire Academy in Maryland.
Daryl will remain on Platoon 1, moving to Station 3 and the Tower. As a project captain, Daryl will be working on our capital purchasing projects including the planned purchase of an engine and squad.
On February 7th, 2022, the Hamden Fire Department swore in probationary Firefighter/Paramedics Ryan Shea and Gary Oster. Shea and Oster were sworn in by Town Clerk Kerimah Mickens during a ceremony held at Memorial Town Hall.
Ryan Shea comes to us from the UConn Fire Department, where he started his fire service career in August of 2019. He has additional experienced through his work at AMR and having graduated from the Yale-New Haven Hospital Center for EMS Paramedic Program in 2017.
Gary Oster comes to us from the Waterbury Fire Department, where he began his professional firefighting career, having graduated from the Connecticut Fire Academy Recruit Class 62 in 2018. Gary also has additional experience through AMR, Stratford EMS, and Bridgeport Hospital; he is a recent graduate of the Yale-New Haven Hospital Center for EMS Paramedic Program, receiving his certification this past July.
After their swearing-in, both Shea and Oster spent two weeks with Captain Lennon, receiving departmental orientation and working with our fire officers throughout the department to familiarize them with the department's apparatus and response districts. Following department orientation, Firefighter Shea was assigned to Station 2 on the 1st Platoon; Firefighter Oster was assigned to Station 2 on the 4th Platoon.
We wish both Ryan and Gary the best of luck and welcome them to the Department.
*An additional two paramedics were hired by the Hamden Fire Department who are currently attending the Connecticut Fire Academy Recruit Firefighter Program, which began at the beginning of February.
Pictured above from Left to Right: Fire Chief Gary Merwede, Recruit Wilson Rodriquez, Captain Rich Lennon, and Recruit Conor Healey at the Connecticut Fire Academy. Healey and Rodriquez began the academy program at the beginning of February and will graduate at the end of May.
Friday, January 14, 2022
This morning, two new Captains and two new Lieutenants were sworn in during a ceremony held at Memorial Town Hall.
Chief Merwede welcomed the gathering with some words of thanks to Hamden's outgoing fire commission. "I would like to recognize and thank the retiring Hamden Fire Commission for their years of hard work, service to the town, and dedication to the department. Commissioners Henry Candido, Jim O'Brien, Eric Curtis, and Oswald Brown - the Hamden Fire Department thanks you." The Chief went on to say that a new commission will be in place by next week and that he looks forward to working with them on behalf of the department.
Representing Mayor Lauren Garrett was her Chief of Staff Sean Grace, who praised and congratulated the four officers. He noted that Mayor Garrett was very sorry that she was unable to attend because she is quarantined due to a recent COVID diagnosis.
Town Clerk Karimah Mickens then swore in the officers together in one group. Each one then signed his official acknowledgement of promotion.
From Chief Merwede's remarks . . .
"Captain Richard Lennon, our current Training Officer with nearly fourteen years of service, holds a Master's Degree in Emergency Management, and a Bachelor's Degree in Public Safety Management. He is a certified Fire Officer, Fire and EMS Instructor, and Incident Sagfety Officer. Rich also worked tirelessly on behalf of the department to keep our members safe during COVID-19.” Captain Lennon will be leaving staff and returning to the line, assigned to Station 4 on Platoon 1.
“Captain Michael Dowling, with fourteen years on the job, holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fire Science Administration, graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of New Haven. He has completed Officer I & II and a list of Rescue Technician and hazardous materials certifications through the Connecticut Fire Academy. Captain Dowling will remain on Platoon 4 and will be reassigned to Station 3, where he will be working on administrative departmental projects."
"Lieutenant Michael DeLine Jr., also a fourteen-year veteran firefighter, pump operator, aerial operator, and EMT, has completed Fire Officer I & II and is currently a Fire Service Instructor and Station Evaluator. He has attended operational training courses at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, and recently received a letter of commendation for his work at a structure fire this past July. Lieutenant DeLine will be assigned to Station 3 on Platoon 3."
"Lieutenant Lawrence DeBurra, a nine-year veteran firefighter, operates all Hamden Fire Department apparatus. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry, with a minor in mathematics and molecular cell biology. Lieutenant DeBurra holds Connecticut Fire Academy certifications as a pump operator, aerial operator, and rescue technician, and has attended multiple classes in rapid intervention team training. Larry has received two commendation letters in the past year for his work at structure fires. He will be assigned to Station 2 on Platoon 2."
Congratulations to all members on your promotions, and best of luck in your new positions.
*Capt. Dave Johnson (HFD ret.)
On Friday, December 17, 2021, Captain Adam Barletta was sworn in as a Battalion Chief during a ceremony held in the rotunda of the Memorial Town Hall.
Dozens of active and retired department members gathered to witness twenty-one-year department veteran Adam Barletta being sworn in by newly elected Town Clerk Karimah Mickens.
Among the department retirees was Battalion Chief Barletta's dad, retired Hamden Fire Marshal Mark Barletta, who proudly pinned on the B/C's new badge as Mayor Lauren Garrett and Chief Gary Merwede looked on.
In remarks before the crowd, Chief Merwede noted, "During this unprecedented time of rebuilding the leadership of the Hamden Fire Department after recent retirements, it is important to recognize that experienced fire officers like Adam will have the opportunity to shape our department and lead it into the future." Barletta fills the vacancy created when B/C John Spencer retired last month after nearly 35 years on the job, the last 19 as battalion chief.
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