Suffolk Salutes Its Volunteer Firefighters

Suffolk County’s volunteer fire service took center stage as firefighters from each of the county’s 18 legislative districts were honored for service to their communities.

The recognition ceremony, held at the Rose Y. Caracappa Auditorium in the William H. Rogers Legislature Building in Hauppauge, was hosted by Legislator Dominick Thorne, chairman of the Legislature’s Fire, Rescue and Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness Committee.

The honorees represent a cross-section of the thousands of volunteers serving Suffolk’s 228 fire departments. In addition to fighting fires, volunteers respond to medical emergencies, hazardous-material incidents, rescues, motor vehicle crashes and other emergencies.

“With each fire or emergency, these volunteers demonstrate not only their technical training and proficiency but their caring and commitment for our communities,” Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo said, noting that volunteers respond around the clock to protect property and save lives.

Piccirillo selected Holbrook Fire Department 1st Assistant Chief Jason Reimo as the Eighth Legislative District honoree. Reimo began with the department’s junior program in 1990 before becoming a firefighter in 1995. He went on to serve as lieutenant and captain of Eagle Engine Company 2 and was twice honored with the Fredrick Brace Training Award.

Thorne selected Henry Rotermund of the Medford Fire Department, who has also served as a first responder with Brookhaven Ambulance and South Country Ambulance.

Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano, who’s served with the Medford Fire Department for more than four decades, including 30 years as a district commissioner, was nominated by Legislator Nick Caracappa.

County Executive Ed Romaine honored Eastport Fire Chief Virginia Massey-Haughn.

The honorees by legislative district were:

• LD 1 — Matthew Jakubowsky, Wading River Fire Department

• LD 2 — Rob Essay, Southampton Fire Department

• LD 3 — Michael Malone, Mastic Fire Department

• LD 4 — Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, Medford Fire Department

• LD 5 — Robert Murphy, Setauket Fire Department

• LD 6 — Yaphank Fire Department

• LD 7 — Henry Rotermund, Medford Fire Department

• LD 8 — Jason Reimo, Holbrook Fire Department

• LD 9 — Ken Bradbury, Deer Park Fire Department

• LD 10 — Brian Shea, East Islip Fire Department

• LD 11 — John Ippolito Jr., Bay Shore Fire Department

• LD 12 — Daniel Madden, Nesconset Fire Department

• LD 13 — Angelo Sanzeri, Commack Fire Department

• LD 14 — Peter Daniele, West Babylon Fire Department

• LD 15 — Kevin Spillane, East Farmingdale Fire Department

• LD 16 — Stanley Sadowski, Greenlawn Fire Department

• LD 17 — Michael Palmo, Deer Park Fire Department

• LD 18 — David Caputo, Greenlawn Fire Department