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Crime & Safety

Fire Department Leadership Stays Steady

Area fire departments opted to keep their officers in office this year as they continue to focus on many of last year's goals.

When the Purchase and West Harrison Fire Departments initiate this year's officers, it'l look mighty similar to last year.

That's because virtually all of their incumbent officers held onto their seats in recent elections.

Pat Galluzzo, Chief of the West Harrison Fire Department, attributed this to the fact that many of the department's officers are young and they want to give them enough time to grow in their positions before moving up the ranks.

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"We have a great training program ... keeping the officers in their positions for a few years really develops them. We don't want to just rush them up but give them experience so as they move up they can handle the position," Galluzzo said. 

At the West Harrison department, Galluzzo will be rejoined in leadership by Assistant Chief Steve Mancini; Capt. Michael Pellegrino; 1st Lt. Frank Forgione and 2nd Lt. Devito. Safety Officers Peter Sciliano and Matt Fitzgerald will join them along with Engineer Steve Surace.

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Chief Joseph Brefere at the Purchase Fire Department is being joined by his son, Joseph Brefere, Jr. as 1st Lt. again and Nick Conte is returning as 2nd Lt.

"My grandfather was the first chief and eventually my son will be chief. I'm a third generation chief," Brefere said.

Galluzzo and Brefere said they made a huge push for more intense and in-depth training last year and they plan to continue that this year.

"We've upped the training considerably ... we do more heavy recue type training now," Brefere said.

The two departments instituted a duel-response system in September last year, and Galluzzo said he hopes they can expand that this year. As part of the system, the two departments also train together twice a month, he said.

The Purchase Fire Department will officially install its 2010 officers at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Purhhase Fire Department, and the public is welcome to attend.

The West Harrison Fire Department will install its 2010 officers at 2 p.m. on Jan. 31 at the West Harrison Fire Department.

"The guys like the job I'm doing and they have young families so they're in no rush," Galluzzo said. "It's almost a full time position [being chief] because there's so much you have to watch for. It's a big responsibility. It's a lot for a volunteer,"

The Harrison Fire Department did not return calls for comment.

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