Firefighters And EMS Personnel Honored

Firefighters and EMS Personnel Honored

Suffolk County Legislature Recognizes Firefighters and EMS Personnel Honors Bestowed from Each of the 18 Legislative Districts

Firefighters and Emergency Services (EMS) personnel were recognized for their efforts by the Suffolk County Legislature, where each Legislator introduced an honoree from their district at the September 4, 2024 General Meeting in the Rose Caracappa Auditorium of the William H. Rogers Legislative Building.HAUPPAUGE – An impressive group of dedicated firefighters and emergency services (EMS) personnel were recognized for their efforts and achievements as each of the 18 members of the Suffolk County Legislature introduced an honoree from their district at Wednesday’s General Meeting in the Rose Caracappa Auditorium of the William H. Rogers Legislative Building.

The Legislature, with this ceremony, marked specific contributions that the individual honorees in 18 Legislative Districts made to the public safety and health of our communities. These men and women exemplify the talent, dedication, and caring for fellow residents defined by the thousands more volunteers who use their talents on our behalf, especially in the face of danger and disaster.  Suffolk County is home to nearly 11,000 volunteer firefighters and more than 3,200 emergency services personnel. In total, these intrepid responders with a variety of skills and vital experience answered 215,343 calls in 2023 alone.  Year to date, 2024 has seen a 12% increase in fire and EMS calls. 

On the day of the recent storm, there was a nearly 40% increase in calls over the average Sunday, with 1,221 calls coming in just a 24-hour period.

“Each fire or emergency demonstrates not only a need for attention to physical infrastructure, but evokes a greater appreciation for the human infrastructure, especially the firefighters and emergency services personnel that respond to save lives, repair communities, and prepare for the next critical situation,” said Presiding Officer Kevin J. McCaffrey.

“I cannot recall the last time I rose at three in the morning to help a stranger, yet these men and women leave their homes and their families to protect and save our homes and families – at all hours of the day and night and despite all levels of risk.”

“I am proud to be able to honor Michael DeGregorio of my District, a former Chief of the Lindenhurst Fire Department — who served as Chief of Department from 2015-2017 and again from 2021-2023, and who also proudly retired from the City of New York Police Department. His quick -thinking and heroic actions saved a student’s life after an altercation last year resulted in life-threatening knife wounds. He is but one example of why we recognize how these honorees make Suffolk County a better place to live,” said McCaffrey.

First Name	Last Name	Town	Legislator	LD #
Mark	Donnelly	Wading River	Stark	1
Alan	Burke	Montauk	Welker	2
Vincent	Zarcone	Mastic	Mazzarella	3
Kenneth ‘Tyler’	VanGorden	Selden	Caracappa	4
Rich	Leute	Setauket	Englebright	5
Matthew	Gropper	Middle Island	Lennon	6
Michael R.	Barry	Medford	Thorne	7
Raymond	Audett	Bohemia	Piccirillo	8
William	Menendez	Brentwood	Gonzalez	9
Gerald ‘Gerry’	O’Mara	Ronkonkoma	Bergin	10
John	McAuley	West Islip	Flotteron	11
Nesconset Fire Department		Nesconset	Kennedy	12
Kings Park Fire Department		Kings Park	Trotta	13
Michael	DeGregorio	Lindenhurst	McCaffrey	14
Evins	Delusme	Wyandanch	Richberg	15
Todd	Cohen	Dix Hills	Sanin	16
Brian	Thomas	Deer Park	Donnelly	17
Shane	McCoy	Northport	Bontempi	18