Palatine Holds Ceremony to Highlight New Faces, Roles in Fire Department

The Palatine Village Council Monday meeting was the setting for a number of official pinning ceremonies that highlighted promotions and new faces within the Palatine Fire Department.

“These men have challenged themselves to go above and beyond to become leaders in the future. We’ve got a fire department in Palatine that is second to none,” said Mayor Jim Schwantz.

The vacancies actually date back to July of 2012, but as Fire Chief Scott Andersen put it before the ceremony began, “this makes it official.”

Among the promotions were:

• Fire Marshal Rick Marek, who has served the village for 23 years, first as a firefighter/paramedic for 13 years and then in the Fire Prevention Division as a fire inspector. Marek holds certifications as a Fire Officer II and Fire Prevention Officer II. He is the immediate past president of the Illinois Fire Service Association and the Illinois Fire Advisory Commission.
• Battalion Chief Jim Conn, a 24 year veteran firefighter/paramedic, who is certified as a Fire Officer II.
• Battalion Chief Anthony Lavacchi, a 16 year veteran firefighter/paramedic, who is certified as a Fire Officer II.
• Captain Jeff Bober, a 32 year veteran firefighter/paramedic, who is certified as a Fire Officer II.
• Captain Steve Schweitzer, a 21 year veteran firefighter/paramedic, who is certified as a Fire Officer II.
• Lieutenant Darren Brents, a 14 year veteran firefighter/paramedic, who is a provisional Fire Officer I.
• Lieutenant Nate Paulsberg, an 8 year veteran firefighter/paramedic, who is a provisional Fire Officer I.

New firefighters:

• Mark Pelletreau who started on July 16, 2012.
• Dan Linneman who started on September 12, 2012.
• Nick Jacquette who started on October 31, 2012.
• Brandon Lefebvre who started on December 4, 2012.

New fire department chaplain:

• Reverend Michael Morris, senior pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Palatine since 2001. Reverend Morris is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran serving from 1966-1969.

After the pinning ceremony was completed, Chief Andersen expressed pride in his department, many of which filled the audience of more than 50 people.

“I cannot tell you what an honor it is to look out and see that sea of blue,” he said.