During a Thursday afternoon ceremony held in the Hoboken City Hall Council Chambers, five members of the city’s Fire Department were promoted, two to the rank of Battalion Chief and three to the rank of Captain.
Members promoted to Battalion Chief include Andrew Markey Jr. and Richard England. Firefighters Michael Forcum, Michael Ross, and Jimmy Principe were promoted to Captain. The promotions take effect immediately.
Mayor Ravi Bhalla commented, “I commend those being promoted today, for their continued commitment and their willingness to take on even greater responsibilities within the Hoboken Fire Department. As a Hoboken resident in addition to being Mayor, I personally want to thank you and your families for the sacrifices you make each day to keep my family and our entire community safe each and every day.”
“I am confident these newly promoted Battalion Chiefs and Captains will continue to make their mark on not just the Hoboken Fire Department, but on the entire City,” said Public Safety Director Ken Ferrante. “Congratulations on these well-deserved, and earned, promotions.”
“Today is the day your hard work and patience is rewarded,” said Chief Anton Peskens. “These promotions are a result of your dedication, leadership, and commitment, and are a direct reflection of the confidence we have in you.”
The Hoboken Fire Department, according to a city press release, responds to an average of over 5,000 emergencies a year including fires, natural disasters, medical distress calls, rescues, and more. HFD also participates in regional response initiatives including the New Jersey Regional Fireboat Task Force for marine emergencies including the April helicopter crash in the Hudson River, and the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) for technical rescues like the 2023 cargo ship fire in Newark.