Bloomfield Fire Captain Earns Prestigious Certification

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A fire captain in Bloomfield was recently recognized for his “professionalism, educational/technical achievements and service to the community.”

A municipal news release details more of the accolades that Carl Mercado earned by attaining the designation of “fire officer” from the distinguished Center for Public Safety Excellence. The esteemed title is shared with only 660 other fire officers internationally.

According to town officials:

“The Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC) model is designed to assist in the professional development of fire and emergency service personnel by providing guidance for career planning through participation in the program. Designated officers are often described as being progressive and well-rounded. Part of the reason for this is the holistic scope of the CPC model. It looks at the ‘whole officer,’ focusing on components that cover the span of an officer’s experience.”

A resident of Bloomfield who serves as the Bloomfield Fire Department’s accreditation manager, Mercado joined the department in 2012 and was promoted to captain in 2022. In addition to his service to the local community, he also recently retired after serving his country for 21 years in the U.S. Navy Reserves, achieving the rank of chief petty officer.

“I am immensely proud of Captain Mercado for attaining this prestigious certification,” Bloomfield Fire Chief Louis Venezia said. “His commitment is a great benefit to our department. He has demonstrated through his education, professional affiliations and technical competence that he possesses the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the fire and emergency services profession.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Bloomfield Facebook page.