Bi-Annual Awards Ceremony

 
By Lieutenant Kevin Ferris
July 11, 2026
 

This week, the Department held its bi-annual awards ceremony, recognizing the hard work and efforts of our members for 2024 and 2025.

Commendations were awarded in several different categories classified by the member’s actions, including:

Life Saving Awards
Honorable Service Award
Unit Citation
Command Recognition

These awards were achieved by each member’s actions that went above & beyond, to save lives or better the department. We are proud of the hard work, time, and dedication that all of our members commit to keeping our City safe!
 
Chief Seymour officially appointed Volunteer Firefighter Pastor Michael Davis as the Peekskill Fire Department Chaplain. Chaplain Davis is the Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Peekskill, and joined our department after moving to our City with his family.
Chief Seymour officially appointed Volunteer Firefighter Pastor Michael Davis as the Peekskill Fire Department Chaplain. Chaplain Davis is the Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Peekskill, and joined our department after moving to our City with his family.
Mayor Vivian McKenzie
Mayor Vivian McKenzie
 
City Manager Matt Alexander
City Manager Matt Alexander
LT Chris Rimm, Career Firefighters James Howard and Darwin Molina were awarded a Command Recognition for their actions assisting on a life saving EMS call in February of 2024.
LT Chris Rimm, Career Firefighters James Howard and Darwin Molina were awarded a Command Recognition for their actions assisting on a life saving EMS call in February of 2024.
 
LT Patrick McGinnis and FF Marcos Suarez were awarded a Command Recognition for their actions assisting on a life saving EMS call In May of 2024
LT Patrick McGinnis and FF Marcos Suarez were awarded a Command Recognition for their actions assisting on a life saving EMS call In May of 2024
FF’s Daniel Ferris and Darwin Molina were awarded a Command Recognition for their actions assisting on a life saving EMS call in June of 2024.
FF’s Daniel Ferris and Darwin Molina were awarded a Command Recognition for their actions assisting on a life saving EMS call in June of 2024.
 
LT Chris Rimm and FF Michael Sniffen received a Life Saving Award for their resuscitation efforts on a patient in cardiac arrest in June of 2024.
LT Chris Rimm and FF Michael Sniffen received a Life Saving Award for their resuscitation efforts on a patient in cardiac arrest in June of 2024.
FF’s Marcos Suarez and Hakeem Odeyinde received a Life Saving Award for their resuscitation efforts on a patient in cardiac arrest in August of 2024.
FF’s Marcos Suarez and Hakeem Odeyinde received a Life Saving Award for their resuscitation efforts on a patient in cardiac arrest in August of 2024.
 
LT Patrick McGinnis and FF Dylan Walsh received a Life Saving Award for their resuscitation efforts on a patient in cardiac arrest in December of 2024.
LT Patrick McGinnis and FF Dylan Walsh received a Life Saving Award for their resuscitation efforts on a patient in cardiac arrest in December of 2024.
Volunteer Firefighters Jake Polay, Tom Walker, Paul Parker, Robert Gillick, Carlos Bacuilima, and Donald Ettinger were awarded a Command Recognition as top incident responders in 2024.
Volunteer Firefighters Jake Polay, Tom Walker, Paul Parker, Robert Gillick, Carlos Bacuilima, and Donald Ettinger were awarded a Command Recognition as top incident responders in 2024.
 
LT’s Ryne Sheridan, Kevin Ferris, Chris Rimm; FF’s James Howard, Marcos Suarez, David Brito, Hakeem Odeyinde, and Oliver Martell were awarded a Unit Citation for their actions in the extrication and resuscitation efforts the victim of a vehicle accident in August of 2025.
LT’s Ryne Sheridan, Kevin Ferris, Chris Rimm; FF’s James Howard, Marcos Suarez, David Brito, Hakeem Odeyinde, and Oliver Martell were awarded a Unit Citation for their actions in the extrication and resuscitation efforts the victim of a vehicle accident in August of 2025.
LT Sean McCollum, FF’s Colin Park and Keith Walker received the Honorable Service Award for their actions during a water rescue on the Hudson River in August of 2025.
LT Sean McCollum, FF’s Colin Park and Keith Walker received the Honorable Service Award for their actions during a water rescue on the Hudson River in August of 2025.
 
Volunteer Firefighters Tom Walker, Paul Parker, Kevin DeYoe, Dr John McGurty, Carlos Bacuilima, and Donald Ettinger were awarded a Command Recognition as top incident responders in 2025.
Volunteer Firefighters Tom Walker, Paul Parker, Kevin DeYoe, Dr John McGurty, Carlos Bacuilima, and Donald Ettinger were awarded a Command Recognition as top incident responders in 2025.
FF Tobias Loayza was awarded a Command Recognition for his work on the successful award of a $19,000 grant from the Leary Firefighters Foundation, to fund the purchase of additional vehicle extrication tools.
FF Tobias Loayza was awarded a Command Recognition for his work on the successful award of a $19,000 grant from the Leary Firefighters Foundation, to fund the purchase of additional vehicle extrication tools.
 
FF Rocco Picciano was awarded a Command Recognition for his work on the successful award of a $688,000 grant from the US Department of Homeland Security, to fund the purchase of a Fire/Rescue Boat.
FF Rocco Picciano was awarded a Command Recognition for his work on the successful award of a $688,000 grant from the US Department of Homeland Security, to fund the purchase of a Fire/Rescue Boat.
Past Assistant Chief and James Sniffen was recognized for his four years of service as Assistant Chief from 2022-2026.
Past Assistant Chief and James Sniffen was recognized for his four years of service as Assistant Chief from 2022-2026.