New London promotes two, swears in three firefighters
New London — The city on Thursday promoted two and swore in three firefighters.
Timothy O’Reilly and Michael Coleman were promoted to the rank of lieutenant during an afternoon ceremony at City Hall. Charles Maxson, Benjamin Marcus and Mark Finnegan were sworn in as city firefighters.
O’Reilly, who earned an associate degree from Three Rivers Community College in 2017, was a firefighter in Montville for four years before he started work with the New London Fire Department in 2008. He’ll join Group 2 under the command of Battalion Chief Jeffrey Rheaume.
Coleman, hired in 2011, is a third-generation firefighter who has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from the University of New Haven. He attended the Connecticut State Fire Academy and has logged 644 hours of classroom and hands-on training.
Maxson, inspired by his father to join the fire service, began as a volunteer firefighter in Old Saybrook at 15. A certified emergency medical technician, he majored in fire protection and safety technology at Oklahoma State University and attended the Connecticut State Fire Academy. He’ll join Group 4 under Battalion Chief Keith Nichols.
Marcus, a New Hartford native, has worked as a dispatcher in Litchfield County since 2012 and was a per diem firefighter for the New Hartford Village Fire District. A certified EMT who has attended the fire science program at Naugatuck Valley Community College, Marcus also will join Group 2 under Rheaume.
Finnegan comes to New London from Meriden, where he was a career firefighter and assistant chief. A graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in fire and safety engineering technology, Finnegan first worked as a fire inspector with the Dallas Fire Department. Finnegan also is a certified EMT.
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