Hartsdale Recruit Among Graduates from County Fire Academy

Nine fire recruits from Westchester graduated today, July 17, from the Westchester County Career Chiefs Fire Academy, officials announced.

The new firefighters were awarded their certificates during a graduation ceremony held at the Robert Schnibbe Jr. Support Services Building at the Department of Emergency Services. County Executive Rob Astorino and Commissioner John M. Cullen of the Department of Emergency Services addressed the graduates.

“It’s never easy to be a recruit in the Fire Academy but a class of nine is much smaller than usual,” Astorino told the graduates, drawing nods and knowing laughter from them and members of the audience. “Talk about having nowhere to hide. By comparison, the last graduating class had 25 members. So I am guessing that the nine of you received quite a lot of ‘personal’ attention from your instructors.”

The county executive thanked DES staff and the instructors from numerous fire departments who trained the new firefighters during the 18-week Fire Academy program.

“Our county and its fire departments share a common commitment to provide the best training possible for members of the fire service,” said Astorino. “These new firefighters have indeed received the finest training there is from instructors of extraordinary talent, skill and experience.”

The graduates and their departments are: Christopher Duffelmeyer, Hartsdale Fire Department; Thomas Leonard, Michael Mackenzie and Christopher Rimm, Peekskill Fire Department; Cea Fong, John Giordano Jr. and Heriberto Virella, Port Chester Fire Department; and William Simons and Hassan Washington, White Plains Fire Department.

Photo 1: Front Row, kneeling: (right to left) Heriberto Virella (Port Chester FD), William Simons (White Plains FD), Thomas Leonard (Peekskill FD), Cea Fong (Port Chester FD)

Back Row: Christopher Duffelmeyer (Hartsdale FD), Christopher Rimm (Peekskill FD), Michael Mackenzie (Peekskill FD), John Giordano Jr. (Port Chester FD), Hassan Washington (White Plains FD)

Photo 2: Front Row (right to left): Heriberto Virella (Port Chester FD), William Simons (White Plains FD), John Giordano Jr. (Port Chester FD), Cea Fong (Port Chester FD)

2nd Row: Christopher Rimm (Peekskill FD), Thomas Leonard (Peekskill FD), Michael Mackenzie (Peekskill FD)

3rd (Top) Row: Christopher Duffelmeyer (Hartsdale FD), Hassan Washington (White Plains FD)