Fire Chiefs, Department Officers Take Their Oaths

The Garden City Fire Department’s chiefs and line and corporate officers took their oaths of office Thursday, April 22, 2021 during ceremonies at Village Hall. Mayor Cosmo Veneziale did the honors.

Devyn Moody will serve as Chief of the Department. He will be aided during the coming year by 1st Assistant Chief Matthew Pearn, 2nd Assistant Chief James Taunton and 3rd Assistant Chief Jonathan Parrella.

Chief Moody has served the Garden City Fire Department for the past 11 years. He is third generation of his family to be a member of the Garden City Fire Department. He has spent the last four years as Assistant Chief. Before serving in the Chief’s ranks, Chief Moody was Captain, First Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant of Truck Company. Chief Moody also served as Department Secretary and Assistant Secretary. Chief Moody has taken numerous courses over the years provided by both New York State and Nassau County Fire Service Academies, including NIMS 100, 200, 300, 700, 800, Principles of Instruction, Apparatus Pump Operator, Aerial Operator, Vehicle Extrication, Building Construction and Fire Ground Communications. Chief Moody is looking forward to a successful year as the Department continues to strive to the best of its ability to protect the lives and property of residents of Garden City.

First Assistant Chief Pearn has served the Garden City Fire Department for the past 12 years. He has spent five of those years as a line officer; three years with Engine Company, having obtained the rank of Captain and two years as a Lieutenant in Truck Company. During his tenure, he has served on various Committees and continues to serve on the Driver Training, SOG and Fund Drive Committees. Always looking to enhance his skills and knowledge, Assistant Chief Pearn has taken numerous courses over the years provided by both New York State and Nassau County Fire Service Academies, including Principles of Instruction, Apparatus Pump Operator, Vehicle Extrication and Fire Ground Communications. A graduate of Garden City High School, Assistant Chief Pearn attended Loyola University, earning a degree in business. He is currently working for JP Morgan in its Investment Bank.

Second Assistant Chief Taunton moved from Valley Stream to Garden City in 2000, where he attended Garden City High School and graduated in 2006. In 2010, he obtained a Bachelor’s of Science with a major in Nursing from Adelphi University. Currently, Mr. Taunton is working at NYU Winthrop as an Assistant Nurse Manager in the Electrophysiology/ Cath Lab. He has been part of the Garden City Fire Department since 2012 and has rapidly ascended the ranks, serving the last three years as Captain of Truck Company. In addition to his wide range of experience in both the Fire Department and working at NYU Winthrop Hospital, Mr. Taunton is now also taking classes towards a Master’s degree in Emergency Management from Adelphi University.

Third Assistant Chief Parrella has more than two decades in the fire service, serving more than 16 years in the Hempstead Fire Department as Lieutenant and Captain. Originally from Montreal, Canada, Chief Parrella moved to Garden City with his family and did not hesitate to join the Fire Department. In his 5+ years with the Garden City Fire Department, he was an Engine Company Officer for three years and is now starting in the Chief’s ranks. Always looking to enhance his skills and knowledge as all of our members are, Assistant Chief Parrella has taken numerous courses over the years provided by both New York State and Nassau County Fire Service Academies, including Principles of Instruction, Apparatus Pump & Ariel Operator, Vehicle Extrication and Fire Ground Communications. Chief Parrella has a family business in town, which has been present since 1974. His wife, Deborah, is a nurse practitioner and a teacher in the Nursing program at Molloy College. His two daughters attend Garden City High School.

Line Officers who also took their oaths of office include Thomas Rivera, Captain - Engine Co.; Terry Randell, Captain - Truck Co.; Matthew Carroll, 1st Lieutenant - Engine Co.; Daniel Roeper, 1st Lieutenant - Truck Co.; Robert Carpentier, 2nd Lieutenant - Engine Co.; and Chris Maier, 2nd Lieutenant - Truck Co.

Outgoing Chief Thomas Strysko has served in the Garden City Fire Department for 15+ years, having just completed his second term as Chief of Department.