EMS Promotes 59; Two New Deputy Chiefs

By GINGER ADAMS OTIS

The Fire Department Nov. 27 marked the promotion of 59 members of its Emergency Medical Service Bureau.

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta commended the "three principles emergency workers live by: courage, confidence and compassion."

He congratulated the group and thanked them for "what [they] put into the department, because we're getting a lot out of it."

50 New Paramedics

At the ceremony, 50 members who completed advanced training were upgraded to Paramedic, and seven members were elevated to the rank of Captain. Two members were promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief.

Among those promoted was Barry Travis, a 22-year veteran who risked his life last year to rescue a 63-year-old woman trapped above a fire in Brooklyn. For his heroic actions, he was awarded the Tracy Allen-Lee Medal at EMS Medal Day 2006. Mr. Travis was upgraded to Paramedic and promoted to Captain.

Chief of EMS Command John Peruggia said newly-promoted Deputy Chiefs Ann Fitton and Steven Morelli "have long proven their commitment to the EMS profession and the city."

He added that the "seven Captains being promoted come from both field and administrative assignments within the department. They are our future leaders and will play a critical role in educating and directing our work force."

Other Captains

Besides Mr. Travis, the new Captains included Frank Andino; Martin Braun; Grace Cacciola; Elizabeth Franceschi; Bruce Medjuck; and John Nevins. In the group of former Emergency Medical Technicians who became Paramedics, Lauren Sperber won the academic achievement award and David Weston was the class speaker.

The other new Paramedics were:

Carolyn Fiorianti; Esmerelda Gonzalez; Eugene Hanretty; Kevin Lebby; Alex Acevedo; Timothy Anson; Lorena Aristy; Barbara Brady; Francisco Checo; Michael Coeyman; Heath Cohn; Arthur Concepcion; Juan Cortes; Sean Cunniffe; Luiz Estevez; Patrick Flynn; Dorlan Freeman; Lothaire Germain; David Greenidge; Kenya Jones; Tracy Joseph; Adil Khalid; Michael Kim; Michael Loscalzo; James McCue; Sean McGrath; Christopher Natoli; Alessandro Negri; Jeannette Otero; Eddy Perez; Jeanne Pirrone; Antonio Quinones; Cesar Ramirez; Orlando Ramos; Daniel Rella; Joann Restko; Noel Reyes; Taisha Robinson; Michael Sullivan; Stephen Tortoriello; Guillermo Villaverde; Charles Vitale; Rebecca Weisman; Alwain White; Heather Willets; Patrick Worms; and Aaron Young.