New Fire Department officers take the oath last week

Date: 11/30/2010

Dec. 1, 2010

By Katelyn Gendron

Assistant Editor

CHICOPEE -- The Chicopee Fire Department made history Nov. 23, when Mayor Michael Bissonnette and Chief Stephen Burkott sworn in four new captains and five lieutenants, including the first-ever female superior officer.

Lt. Katherine Collins-Kalbaugh, R.N., received her promotion alongside eight of her male colleagues: Capts. Douglas Sanford, Daniel Stamborski, Jon Goudreault and Mark Galarneau and Lts. Ryan Lynch, Peter Jerusik, Robert Andersen and John Chmura.

"The mayor and the fire chief have put a lot of faith in me and I plan to surpass their expectations," Collins-Kalbaugh said of her promotion.

When asked how she plans to do that, Collins-Kalbaugh replied pointing to her colleagues, "By coming to work everyday and do my job just like these guys."

She said she'd wanted to be a firefighter ever since participating in a school demonstration with the Southwick Volunteer Fire Department. Once she held the hose, she was hooked, Collins-Kalbaugh added.

Bissonnette noted this group is the largest number of promotions in the department's history.

"I only have one request: do a good job for all of us," he told the officers.

These promotions create nine openings in the department, which is budgeted for 143 personnel but currently employs 134, Burkott said.

He commended Bissonnette for his support of the department and "keeping staffing at adequate levels."