The Hicksville Fire Department held its 48th Annual Inspection and Installation of Officers ceremony on Saturday, April 5 at the Huntington Hilton in Melville.

Chief McGeough, who was installed last year as the 62nd chief of the Hicksville Fire Department, was re-elected. Chief McGeough joined the department as a member of Independent Engine Company 2 in 1983 and has since held the positions of 2nd lieutenant, 1st lieutenant and captain in Company 2. He heads the department along with 1st Assistant Chief Steven Doucette, 2nd Assistant Chief Robert F. Chiz and 3rd Assistant Chief Robert J. Land.

During the ceremony, service awards were also presented to members achieving milestones in their service to the department and community, including 50-year members Joseph Pollina and William Stoffel. Both men also received commendations from Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, Nassau County Legislator Edward Mangano, State Senator Carl Marcellino - who was represented by Rose Walker, and Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi - represented by ex-Chief Al Merck. In addition, Pollina was awarded the title of "Honorary Chief" and presented with a chief's helmet.

For 2002, Firefighter Justen Farrell, EMT, and Firefighter Jeff Foster received a Hicksville Fire Department Certificate of Merit for their quick-thinking actions in the moment of crisis during a "possible cardiac" on April 17. In addition, Farrell received a Certificate of Merit for assisting a woman who was in respiratory arrest during a Carnival Cruise on June 30.

Service Awards were presented to Fire Commissioner and ex-Chief William Schuckmann and ex-Captain William Boyd. Commissioner Schuckmann was presented with the Hicksville Fire Department Service Award for over 30 years of service to the department. He worked his way through the ranks, serving as 2nd lieutenant, 1st lieutenant and then captain of Floodlight/Heavy Rescue Co. 8. In 1980, Schuckmann was elected to 3rd Assistant Chief and worked his way to Chief of Department for 1986-1987. In 1988, Schuckmann ran for the uncontested position of fire commissioner and was elected to a five-year term. He then served as chairman of the board in 1992, 1997 and in 2002.

Ex-Captain William Boyd joined the Hicksville Fire Department in August 1959 as a member of Hook and Ladder Co. 6. Over the past 40 years, he has served in various roles, including 2nd lieutenant and 1st lieutenant of Co. 6, before being elected captain in 1970 and 1971. After years as an officer Boyd served the department under various chiefs committees, including co-Chairman of House to House, chairman of the Department of Welfare and chairman of Department Budget. In addition, he was on various Company 6 Captain's Committees and was elected captain of the Fire Police for 2001 and 2003.

The Hicksville Fire Department's Hazardous Material (Haz-Mat) Team was awarded the Unit Citation for their outstanding actions during a May, 19, 2000 crisis. At this time, the Haz Mat team received a mutual aid call from the Melville Fire Department for a leak which resulted after a building contractor had knocked off three vertical pipes from an 18,000 gallon propane tank. Over the next four hours, the Haz-Mat Team performed the necessary repairs to stop the leak.

Department Officers

Chief: Patrick J. McGeough

1st Assistant Chief: Steven Doucette

2nd Assistant Chief: Robert. F. Chiz

3rd Assistant Chief: Robert. J. Lang

Corresponding Secretary: Justen Farrell

Recording Secretary: John Menig, Jr.

Financial Secretary: Richard Humann

Treasurer: Gary T. Fippinger

LOSAP Administrator: Harry Loomis, Paul Caglione

Sergeant-at-Arms: Nicholas Brigandi, Medard Ofenloch

9th Battalion Delegates: Gerard O'Brien, Albert Merk, Owen Magee

Chaplains: Rev. Theodore Grant, Louis Red" Mertz, Medard Ofenloch

Protection Hook & Ladder Company #1

Captain: Thomas Ofenloch

1st Lieutenant: James "Danny" Moorehead

2nd Lieutenant: Brian Hertzel

Secretary: Peter Keller

Treasurer: Gary T. Fippinger

Independent Engine & Hose Company #2

Captain: Frank McGeough

1st Lieutenant: Brian Anderson

2nd Lieutenant: Stephen A. Ocuto

Secretary: Michael Kretz

Treasurer: Joseph Giardina

Citizens Engine Company #3

Captain: Harold Loomis

1st Lieutenant: John Shea

2nd Lieutenant: James Curan

Secretary: Brian Loomis

Treasurer: Benny Lacommare, Sr.

Volunteer Hose Company #4

Captain: Jeffrey Mullally

1st Lieutenant: Gregory Hudson

2nd Lieutenant: Kyle Volo

Secretary: Dennis Mulligan

Treasurer: Joseph Milito

Emergency Company #5

Captain: John K. Keyer

1st Lieutenant: Raymond Granville

2nd Lieutenant: Karl Schweitzer

Secretary: Neil Bicker

Treasurer: Gerald Nolan

Hook & Ladder Company #6

Captain: Michael Reinhardt

Secretary: Scott Galdo

Treasurer: Michael Galdo

Engine Company #7

Captain: Phillip "Tex" Zulkofske

1st Lieutenant: Todd Putman

2nd Lieutenant: Steven Smith

Secretary: Thomas Manaskie

Treasurer: John Luyster

Floodlight/Heavy Rescue Company #8

Captain: Paul Caglione

1st Lieutenant: William Tolley

2nd lieutenant: James Forgarty

Secretary: Chris Fotopoulos

Treasurer: Anthony Wigdzinski

Fire Police

Captain: Robert Niemczyk

1st Lieutenant: Gerald Nolan

2nd Lieutenant: Dennis Mulligan

Hazardous Materials Response Team

Team Leader: John K. Keyer

Co-Leaders: Robert Johnson and Owen Magee

Emergency Medical Services

Coordinators: John J. Flynn, Kevin Brevogel and Scott Drayer

Ladies Auxiliary

President: Jan Manaskie

Vice President: Liz Keyer

Explorer Post 930

Captain: Michael Doerflein

1st Lieutenant: Daniel Wicks

2nd Lieutenant: Michael Lang

20 Years

Kenneth Adams

Richard Diaz

Donald Duerbeck

Clifford Garone

Theodore Grant

Robert Johnson II

Michael Kretz

Richard Proffe

25 Years

William Kelly

Charles Raedy

30 Years

Robert Dwyer

Michael Krummenacker

John Luft

Richard Magee

Timothy Meyer

Dennis Mulligan

Michael Palmer

Michael Scanlon

Patrick Scanlon

35 Years

William A. Sarnelli

40 Years

Donald G. Moore, Sr.

Conrad Strauch

45 Years

Owen Magee

Louis "Red" Mertz

50 Years

Joseph Pollina

William Stoffel