NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — At an Oct. 2025 awards and promotion ceremony, the New Rochelle Fire Department swore in five promoted members and presented a series of life‑saving, unit and meritorious citations for responses over the past year.

The event opened with a reading of names of firefighters who died in the line of duty and a roll of recently retired members. Mayor Yadira Ramos Herbert called the promotions and awards “a deep sense of gratitude and thanks to the men who really run towards danger,” and City Manager Will Melendez said the ceremony was “a time to reflect, recognize, and most importantly, say thank you” to department members and their families.

Deputy Chief Sean DeNigris read the names and biographies of the five members who were formally sworn in. The promoted members and assignments announced at the ceremony were:
- Captain Frank Gagliardo, appointed to the New Rochelle Fire Department Jan. 18, 2000; assigned as captain of the training division after promotion in December 2024. Gagliardo received multiple lifesaving awards and unit citations during his career.
- Captain Michael Petrone, a department member since 1998 and appointed originally in 1986 to city service; promoted in December 2024 and serving as the city’s fire marshal and head of code enforcement.
- Captain Christopher Mormon, appointed Jan. 18, 2000; promoted to captain in January (promotion year cited as 2025) and assigned as code enforcement coordinator.
- Lieutenant Michael Amori, an Army combat veteran who served two combat tours in Afghanistan; appointed originally to the department in 2013 (transcript date forms vary) and returned to station 1 as company officer on Engine 21 after promotion in December 2024.
- Lieutenant Joseph Renda, appointed June 2005; assigned as lieutenant of Engine 23 after promotion in 2024.

Each promoted member recited the oath of office and was congratulated by city leaders and department command. The ceremony emphasized the department’s high call volume: presenters said the department and its ambulance partners respond to about 12,000–14,000 emergency calls a year (roughly 30–40 calls per day) and that apparatus collectively roll more than 30,000 times annually.

Awards presented
The department presented multiple life‑saving awards, unit citations and meritorious recognitions tied to specific incidents cited in award narratives given during the ceremony:
- Life‑saving award — Engine 21 (Nov. 26, 2024, 16 Locust Ave.): Engine 21 crew members initiated CPR on a patient found unresponsive in a motorized wheelchair, administered one dose of intranasal naloxone, and resumed chest compressions until advanced life support arrived. The patient regained a pulse after approximately five minutes and was transported to hospital.
- Life‑saving award — Ladder 12 (date and location read as 117 Gaion): Ladder 12 members found an unconscious, pulseless male, established an airway, used an automated external defibrillator and the department’s LUCAS mechanical CPR device; after shocks and coordinated ALS care on scene, the patient regained a pulse and was transported to Montefiore New Rochelle with a heart rhythm.
- Life‑saving award — Engine 23 and 30 Alpha 2 (listed as 07/18/2025, 214 Clinton Ave.): Engine 23 and ambulance personnel used a Reeves stretcher, provided manual CPR, placed the LUCAS device and used bag‑valve‑mask ventilation en route; the patient regained a pulse after hospital arrival.
- Unit citation and Class 2 citation — Ladder 12 and Engine 22 (response connected to a White Plains collapse/hoarding incident and a separate hoarding house fire): crews conducted a high‑risk interior search where one firefighter, Firefighter Lou Bongo, fell into a floor hole and was rescued by Firefighter Mike Parker; the search later recovered an occupant who did not survive. Engine 22 and Ladder 12 were cited as units; Parker received a Class 2 individual citation for his actions during the incident.
- Meritorious recognition — Engine 22 (Aug. 14 call at or near 250 Webster Ave.): Engine 22 stabilized a patient with severe facial trauma and provided cervical spine stabilization while coordinating with arriving EMS; the patient later succumbed at the hospital, but presenters praised the crews’ professionalism.
- Meritorious recognition — Squad 3, Engine 21, 22, 24, Ladder 12, Rescue 4 and Car 2302 (Sept. 9 I‑95 crash): crews responded to a multi‑vehicle crash with fire and entrapment on I‑95 southbound in which a box truck struck a tractor trailer; crews extinguished fire, employed extrication tools to recover a driver who was later determined deceased, and were recognized for scene professionalism.

Department and partner recognitions
- Empress EMS: The department presented a plaque to Empress Ambulance/Empress EMS in appreciation of ALS partnership on responses; presenters noted the arrangement pairs department EMTs on engines with Empress ambulances that provide advanced life support.
- Honor Guard awards: Firefighters Dante Vonjorni, Rayfell Gibbs and Richard Chavon received Honor Guard recognition for volunteer details and ceremonial duties.
- Arthur Lewis Klein Award: Lieutenant Christian Carrozzo received the annual Arthur Lewis Klein Award for his role leading the department’s fire prevention programs and school outreach (EDITH — Exit Drills In The Home).
- Captain Andrew J. DiMaggio Award: Captain Frank Gagliardo received the memorial award recognizing a member who contributes to training and goes “above and beyond.”
- Fire Commissioner’s Award: Firefighter Daryl Moxie received the Fire Commissioner’s Award; presenters cited more than 25 years of service, multiple unit citations and lifesaving awards, and an extended record of mentorship and pump‑operator training at Station 1.

Context and next steps
Presenters repeatedly noted the department’s high operational tempo, the integral role of family support for on‑duty members, and ongoing city support for training and equipment. Several citations referenced use of the department’s LUCAS mechanical CPR device and coordination with Empress EMS as factors in successful resuscitations. No formal policy motions or legislative actions were taken during the ceremony.

The ceremony concluded with a benediction and an invitation for guests to join department members for a reception in the rotunda.