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Caldwell honors six fire department promotions; JD Hendrick sworn in as EMS captain
Summary
At a Dec. 1 workshop before the Caldwell city council meeting, the city celebrated six promotions within the Caldwell Fire Department, including the swearing-in of JD Hendrick as EMS captain. Chief Daniels said the moves support staffing for a rapidly growing city.
Caldwell officials and family members gathered Dec. 1 for a brief workshop ceremony to recognize six promotions within the Caldwell Fire Department and to swear in a new EMS captain.
Mayor Wagner opened the event and introduced Chief Daniels, who said Caldwell "is growing very fast" and described the promotions as part of the department's effort to meet that growth. Daniels said the department currently serves about 80,000 people and is being built to serve a population of 100,000.
"These promotions and these new positions represent the city council and our mayor's dedication to making sure that we're able to meet those challenges," Daniels said.
The department announced six promotions, with two promoted employees unable to attend. Chief Daniels introduced Captain Justin Hughes, noting Hughes has 10 years in the fire service and nearly five with Caldwell Fire and is a member of the technical rescue, water rescue and hazmat teams. Family members accompanied Hughes for the pinning ceremony.
Captain Kyle McIntosh, introduced next, was described as a 17-year veteran involved in technical rescue operations — including swift-water and rope rescue — and as a live-burn instructor at the department's training facility. Captain Jeremy Sawmiller, with 11 years in the fire service and more than seven with Caldwell Fire, was also promoted; Daniels cited his work on the water-rescue and training committees.
Two engineers, Cole Stein and Isaac Pruitt, were recognized although both were unable to attend. Engineer Mike Chusticky, who Daniels said has nine years in the fire service (eight with Caldwell) and serves on hazmat and peer-support teams, was present and pinned by family.
A central moment of the ceremony was the swearing-in of JD Hendrick. Daniels introduced Hendrick as a 28-year veteran who joins Caldwell after more than two decades with the Meridian Fire Department, where he most recently served as a division chief of EMS. Mayor Wagner administered the oath; Hendrick repeated a pledge "to support and uphold the constitution and laws of the United States of America, the state of Idaho, and the city of Caldwell," and to honor the Caldwell Fire Department's charter, ordinances, policies and procedures.
Daniels said Hendrick will be "instrumental in helping us stand up our advanced life support or paramedic program within the fire department." He also told attendees the department will hold another celebration in roughly three months for nine recruits who have completed week seven of a 16-week academy.
The event concluded with thanks to firefighters, their families and department leadership; the city council's regular meeting was scheduled to begin about 12 minutes later.
