MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — At a pinning ceremony, the Morgantown Fire Department promoted new firefighters, presented department awards and heard newly promoted Chief Gary Freshour outline priorities aimed at improving retention and departmental cohesion.

The ceremony recognized recruits and multiple rank promotions and included the administration of the oath of office. Retired City of Morgantown Fire Lieutenant Bob Covert led an invocation and benediction at the event.

Chief Gary Freshour used his remarks to say the department must adapt. “Change brings opportunities,” he said, and added, “I will continue to speak out for anything that's detrimental to the firemen. But in a completely honest sense, I will also speak out if there's anything that's detrimental to the city.” Freshour said he wants members to be “proud of what they do” and signaled personnel and cultural changes are coming.

Freshour recounted past turnover and the loss of at least one recruit who left for other departments, saying the recruit — who later was valedictorian in Fairfax, Va. — left after morale declined. He said administrative offices had recently experienced several departures that left limited institutional knowledge, and praised members who stepped into interim roles, specifically naming Captain Chuck Campbell for taking on the training captain role.

The department announced a slate of promotions and recognitions during the ceremony. Recruits called forward included Michael Vincent, Dwayne Parnell, Hunter Bishop, Joshua Nykabers, Travis Smith, Trevor Pickupaw, Robert Zimmerman, Richard Berry, Scott McShane, Noah Quattro and James Logan. Firefighters promoted to Firefighter First Class included Lucas Turner, Brett Paul, Andrew Waxman, John Horsey, Travis Thomas, Daniel Morgenshevsky, Michael Close, Marco Pinto, George Calvert and Anthony Martin. The ceremony also named Jason Quinn, Charles Campbell and Brian Izzo among promoted captains and recognized Gary Freshour’s promotion to chief.

The department named Derek Porter its Firefighter of the Year; Porter, who has served nearly 20 years, accepted the honor and said, “It's an honor to have this job.” The department named City Fire Marshal Captain Jason Quinn its Officer of the Year and noted that Quinn led a project to apply for a grant for an arson dog — described at the ceremony as the first arson dog grant in West Virginia, an effort that department leaders said is still being worked through.

Freshour described internal initiatives he is pursuing: a renewed focus on training, greater recognition for staff, and a push to retain personnel after the department lost employees to other agencies. He told members he will be candid both with firefighters and with city leadership: “I'll never lie to you on behalf of the city, but I'm also not gonna lie to the city on behalf of the fire,” he said.

The ceremony included acknowledgments of family support, thanks to city staff who helped organize the event, and the introduction of the department’s new executive secretary, Whitney Wade. Department leaders reported that roughly 90% of members are considered "top tier," a characterization Chief Freshour used in his remarks to stress building on strengths.

No formal votes or council actions were recorded at the ceremony; promotions and awards were conferred as part of the departmental event. Several operational items mentioned by leaders — including the arson dog grant and steps to address staffing and training gaps after administrative turnover — were described as ongoing.

The department did not provide a timeline for the initiatives Freshour described; several items discussed at the ceremony were presented as work in progress and contingent on further steps by department leaders.