Mayor Richard Kos today announced the promotion of Miguel Flores to Fire Lieutenant and Thomas Lazarz to Fire Captain.

Flores joined the Chicopee Fire Department in 1994 first as a Firefighter/EMT and has served as an Acting Captain and Temporary Lieutenant. Lazarz has been a member of the department since 1986 where he has served both as a Hazardous Materials Technician/EMT as well as a Temporary Captain.

“I am pleased to promote Lieutenant Flores and Captain Lazarz,” said Kos. They have both served in these positions on a temporary basis and their training and experience has prepared them to serve in this capacity full-time.”

“I am glad to join Mayor Kos in the promotion of these two individuals,” said Provisional Fire Chief Dean F. Desmarais. “They will continue to serve the people of Chicopee well.”

Flores is the second Hispanic officer in the City’s history and second appointed in the last year. Able Gagnon was the first when his was appointed to Lieutenant in September 2015.

They will officially begin their tenure in their new positions on February 14, 2016.