Allison Park Photo
Harris and his wife.
Kenyatta Harris knows carbon monoxide is a silent killer, so he risked his life to save seven people from a house in a CO emergency. As a captain in the New Haven Fire Department Harris saved lives on a daily basis. As of Friday, he has even more responsibility.
Harris, Slubowski, and Carew.
He was one of three firefighters were promoted in a morning ceremony at the New Haven Fire Training Division. Harris was promoted to battalion chief, L. Stanley Slubowski to captain, and Firefighter James Carew to lieutenant in a domino-effect promotion chain after former Battalion Chief James Kottage’s recent retirement.
Fire Chief John Alston said he’s “very excited” about the “first big wave of promotions” in over 20 years. With around 40 new recruits, Alston looks forward to a “different mixture” of members, not only in terms of race and gender but also a group that’s “multi-generational.” Alston said he’s looking forward to a department with a “greater sense of stability” and advised the newly promoted firefighters to “study and sacrifice.”
As a battalion chief, Harris will oversee 36 people on his team and direct firefighters in action, analyzing the fire ground, reading the building and deciding where to post the crew.
The men were seated on a stage to take their sworn oaths Friday morning in a room full of proud family members, firefighter recruits, and current NHFD members.
Fire Chief John Alston.
Alston reminded the men that with the new positions comes “greater responsibility.” He emphasized the importance of “aptitude and attention to detail” while maintaining “professionalism at all times.”
“I feel great you know. It’s unbelievable. It’s been a long time coming,” said a beaming Harris. He entered the fire academy in December 1995, was promoted to lieutenant in 1999 prior, then served five years as a captain. Now, as Battalion Chief, Harris said he hopes to “grow the department” in the current “transition wave” into a “21st-century firefighter department.”
Slubowski.
Newly minted Captain Stanley Slubowski said he was “overwhelmed and happy” about the promotion. Slubowski said hopes to “bring back” a focus and “a family feeling” in the fire department.
“It’s not just a workplace, but a working family, which is what it’s supposed to be,” he said. Slubowski has been serving at the NHFD for 11 years, staring as a Squad One firefighter based at the Whitney Avenue firehouse prior to his promotion to Squad Two lieutenant at Ellsworth Avenue.