POUGHKEEPSIE – The City of Poughkeepsie professional firefighters held their annual awards dinner on Friday night to recognize the heroic actions of some firefighters. They also honored two lieutenants that retired between 2019 and 2021 because COVID prevented the dinner from taking place in 2020.
William Ringwood was hired as a Poughkeepsie firefighter on January 7, 1974, and rose through the ranks, achieving the rank of lieutenant in March of 1983. Ringwood retired on September 14, 2019, with 45 years of service to the city. He told Mid-Hudson News that while he is enjoying his retirement, he really misses the guys he worked with. “If you love your job, it’s not really work so I never worked a day in my career,” adding, “It’s all about helping people who are in desperate situations and our department is great at doing that.”
Eric Dodd was hired as a firefighter on March 19, 2001 and rose to the rank of lieutenant before retiring on March 27, 2021, after 20 years of service. Both men were recognized for their service in a room full of current and retired City of Poughkeepsie firefighters, family, and a select group of honored guests.
The dinner, sponsored by the Poughkeepsie Paid Firefighters’ Association and the Poughkeepsie Firefighters IAFF Local 596, also included the presentation of a “Meritorious Service” award by Fire Chief Mark Johnson. Noting that the men in his department are some of the best in the business, he praised the firefighters involved in rescuing two men from a collapsed trench in 2020 and presented them with the award. Deputy Chief Joe Franco, Captain Steve Sutka, Lts. Valentine and Bucher, along with firefighters Mauro, McNiff, B. Ineson, Scianna, Anderson, Stroka, and Finn were honored for their lifesaving work that day. Members of the LaGrange and Arlington Fire Departments also assisted that day. More information on the rescue can be found here. Chief Johnson was presented with a Meritorious Service award by the department for his actions that day.
Deputy Chief Joe Franco and firefighters Rugar and Hicks were presented a “Lifesaving” award for their work in reviving a person using CPR and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
Chief Johnson also presented a Letter of Commendation to firefighters Ed Cefarelli and Matt Doherty for their heroics in saving a man’s life during a January 6, 2021 fire at 29 Roosevelt Avenue. Cefarelly and Doherty, assigned to Tower Ladder 2 responded to the pre-dawn fire where a man was trapped on the second floor. The two quickly raised the aerial ladder to the window and pulled the man from the fire and smoke-filled structure.
lieutenant Paul Bucher took a few moments to recognize the invited guests including Jeremy Phillips of Zeus Brewing Company .he brewery has worked with the firefighters annually to brew a beer honoring fallen firefighter Tim “Timbo” Gunther. Several members of the Rossi family were recognized for their unwavering support of the firefighters.
The family owns the landmark Rossi & Sons deli on South Clover Street. Renowned fire photographer Bill Johnson of FD Photo Unit was recognized for his tireless efforts to capture images of firefighters in action.
Bucher also acknowledged Mid-Hudson News Reporter Todd Bender for his coverage of the department, including the currently stalled contract negotiations. “We would like to thank Todd Bender for coming out and covering early morning fires and all of our other events and just about everything else in the city,” Bucher said, adding “He’s the dark knight of news reporters. He’s not the reporter the city deserves, but the one it needs right now.”
The fire department members, led by Lieutenant Meyerson, compile video clips, still photos, and radio transmissions to create an annual “year-in-review” video. Many of the photos are provided by Bill Johnson and Mid-Hudson News. The 2021 video was premiered at the Friday night dinner and can be viewed below.
