15 Firefighters Make Big Leap To Lieutenant

By ARI PAUL

The Fire Department promoted 15 Firefighters Sept. 19 to the rank of Lieutenant during a ceremony at the Fire Academy on Randall's Island.

NICHOLAS SCOPPETTA: 'A challenging transition.'

"The transition from Firefighter to Lieutenant is, perhaps, the most challenging of a firefighter's career," Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said during the ceremony. "Not only are you leaving your company, but you are assuming a new level of responsibility."

Month of Training

The 15 new officers will attend a month-long training course starting Oct. 1. After that, the department will assign them to units throughout the city. They are also moving to a new bargaining unit. Formerly members of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, they will now be represented by the Uniformed Fire Officers Association.

The 15 new Lieutenants are Robert J. Crinnion, John J. McKenna, Hugh P. Lynch, Thomas J. Crowley, Bryan Lillis, Anthony M. Gaglia, Philip M. Polemeni, Jeffrey Rodriguez, Michael J. Thomson, David Panebianco, Carmine L. Calderaro, Jeffrey S. Miller, Jack Allen, John P. Wedlock and Stephen M. Abruzzo.

Lieutenant Lillis is an 11-year veteran of the department, and is leaving Ladder Company 146 in Brooklyn, where Firefighter Daniel Pudjak died in the line of duty in June.

'Mixed Emotions'

"There's a lot of mixed emotions," Lieutenant Lillis said. "I was working the day that Danny was killed."

As the firehouse's family liaison, he grew close to both the Pudjak family and his comrades in the firehouse in the wake of the death.

"It's a great feeling," Lieutenant Lillis said about his promotion. "But, you know, there's a lot of great friends and great firemen I'll be moving on from now."