This page is still under construction and may require a few days more to be completed. But we wanted to get the photos below posted as soon as possible following Friday's swearing-in ceremony.
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Friday, January 25, 2019:
A very big day for the Merwede family,
and the Hamden Fire Department.
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Addressing a crowd of nearly 100 active and retired firefighters, family, and friends in Memorial Town Hall rotunda on Friday, January 25th, Mayor Curt Leng enumerated a long list of qualities that made Gary Merwede his choice for fire chief. Citing the weather emergency of last week (January 20-21), the Mayor stated, "I couldn't have asked for more of a leader."
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| Photo by Harold Mangler |
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| Photo by Harold Mangler |
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Even before officially taking over the reins of the fire department, Chief Merwede got his baptism - not by fire, but by ice, as Connecticut descended into a multiday deepfreeze, as ice coated trees and wires wreaked havoc with the roadways and electrical grid throughout Hamden. "He provided a level of care that was second to none," noted the Mayor, adding, "hands-on leadership, great communication, outstanding coordination with his team, and teamwork required between no fewer than six different departments - all handled with poise and strength."
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Pinning . . .
| . . . it . . .
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Done!
| A very happy family: (L-R) T.J. Deskin, Jake Merwede, Chief Gary and Cheryl Merwede, Travis Deskin, and Sara Merwede. Son, Todd Deskin, is at the University of Rhode Island.
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In remarks following the oath of office, Chief Merwede thanked Mayor Leng and the Legislative Council for the confidence they placed in him and for the support the department has received over the years. He praised his mentors on the department, "professionals, who led by example in the operation of heavy equipment, delivering critical medical care, technical proficiency in complicated rescues, firefighting strategies, labor-management communications, leadership, and planning for the future."
"Under my watch," he continued, "we will work hard to maintain and improve our efficiency, but not at the cost of safety for the public or our firefighters. We will manage our resources, continue to absorb capacity, improve our effectiveness in training, and remain ready to respond as we did 11,715 times last year - a 15% increase over the last four years;" the last statement drawing vigorous applause from the audience.
Chief Merwede concluded his remarks by stating that he looked forward to the future of the department and "working with the talented and dedicated personnel we are so fortunate to have." He also looks forward to "working with our friends in Public Works and our partners in public safety, the Hamden Police Department," and all the other department heads in the Town of Hamden.
"This is a big moment for me. And I thank you for sharing in it."
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Commissioner James O'Brien, Chief Merwede, Commissioner Eric Curtis,
Mayor Curt Leng, and Commission Chairman Henry Candido.
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| No. 9 with Nos. 6 and 5 (Play those numbers today!) |
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Retired Chiefs Tim Sullivan and Paul Wetmore Sr. (middle and right) were on hand to congratulate Chief Merwede, who entered the fire service as a volunteer firefighter with Dunbar Hill Co. 8, where Chief Sullivan got his start. Chief Wetmore, who started with Mix Dixtrict Co. 7, was in charge of the department when Merwede became a career man in 1994. Chief Merwede reported that his immediate predecessor, retired Chief Dave Berardesca, would have been at the swearing-in, but that he was "somewhere on I-95 headed south to Florida to play some golf."
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Check out the very crude attempt at a panoramic photo below, which shows over 80 people as the rotunda was filling up just before the 2:00 p.m. ceremony got started.
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