New Rochelle Fire Department swears in promotions and honors crews for multiple life‑saving responses

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…