MICHAEL “ERIC” BROGAN
SOUTHWICK – Two full-time firefighter/EMTs were selected from a pool of five candidates last night.
The Board of Selectmen chose Jessica Bishop and Michael “Eric” Brogan to fill the positions. Both are volunteer members of the Southwick Fire Department.
Other candidates were Sarah Leavy, also a volunteer firefighter with the department, Timothy O’Keefe, a paramedic and firefighter in Springfield, and volunteer firefighter from Tolland, Jake Littlefield.
Bishop said she was happy to be selected, but it was “bittersweet” because the three candidates from the SFD are very close and she was sorry only two positions were open.
During the interview process, all five candidates were asked the same 15 questions and given an opportunity to speak to the board and Fire Chief Richard Anderson, who participated in the selection process. Selectwoman Tracy Cesan abstained from the process.
Anderson said it was a tough decision and he was proud of his three SFD privates.
JESSICA L. BISHOP
“Three of those interviews were with my people,” he said. “I’ve got some good people.”
The new full-time SFD members should begin in a few weeks following several tests, including a physical exam.
During the interview, Bishop said she found her passion later than many others in the field.
“Some people are lucky enough to know what they want to do with the rest of their life when early on in life,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of experiences and I’ve lived a long 36 years and when I got on an ambulance for the first time, I knew it was what I wanted to do.”
Bishop said she is dedicated to the job and the community.
“For some people, a small town and a small department are a stepping stone, but that’s not for me,” said Bishop. “I want this to be the beginning of my fire career, and the end of my career.”
When asked why he should be hired, Brogan said he is dedicated.
“I enjoy the job – I put everything I have into it,” he said. “I really enjoy helping people.”
Brogan, 29, said he brings a lot of experience to the position, including nine years of military service.
The candidates were asked to share a time when they went above and beyond the call of duty. Bishop said she responded early one morning to a call for a elderly woman who fell. Upon arrival, the woman was already back in bed and was uninjured, but Bishop stayed and spoke to her and listened to her for nearly an hour because she could tell the woman needed to talk to someone.
Brogan said he could not pick a single incident because he tries “to go above and beyond for all” calls.
They were also asked to describe their toughest day on the job. Brogan spoke about responding to a fatal accident where he had to make the call on an occupant in a vehicle who was dead on arrival. Assessing the situation quickly and making that call allowed them to move to the next victim and a life was saved.
Bishop said her hardest call was for the evaluation of a sick person who turned out to be a 17-year-old homeless person who was very sick and dying.
Both candidates explained the chain of command within the department and responded to questions about how to approach specific fire and emergency situations.
