MIFR Honors Service and Promotes Two

Three Marco Island Fire Rescue employees were honored this month for their longtime service to the community. Two of the three employees recognized also earned promotions.

Leonardo Rodriguez presently serves as a Captain for the Fire Rescue Department and received recognition for his 15 years of service with the department. Rodriguez received his Emergency Medical Technician Certification, is certified as one of the department’s Rescue Boat Operators, and is also a certified Haz-Mat Technician. Rodriguez oversees the department’s rescue boat, in addition to quartermaster duties for personal equipment.

Firefighter/Paramedic Christopher Bowden is the second department member to be recognized for his accomplishments. Bowden has worked tirelessly to educate school children and the general public in fire safety and CPR instruction. He has instructed a number of different classes, including the Charter Middle School CPR Academy and the Mackle Park Summer Camp Fire Academy. Bowden serves as a State Certified Fire Instructor and teaches at the Florida Southwestern State College Fire Academy. Recently, Bowden successfully tested for the position of Captain, and was promoted to replace retired Captain James Pope.   

Sergio Deleon was honored with a promotion to the rank of Fire Rescue Lieutenant. Deleon, who joined the department in 2009, will now oversee the department’s Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians. This training furthered the high quality of pre-hospital emergency medical care received by island residents and visitors.

“All three of these professionals have served the residents and our community with distinction and are extremely valuable members of the team that serves this community,” said Fire Rescue Chief Chris Byrne.