ROCKY POINT, NY - On the evening of Saturday, April 6th, the Brookhaven Fire Department held its 101st installation dinner at Majestic Gardens in Rocky Point. The annual installation dinner was held to honor the incoming and outgoing chiefs and officers, and members of the department, and it also gives a venue to present special awards to department members for years of service, and/or other outstanding accomplishments throughout the year prior.

Chief of Department Anthony Verni was installed to his second term as Chief of Department with his two kids by his side. The installation was done by his father, Commissioner Michael Verni. Giuseppe Loiacono was installed as the 1st Assistant Chief; rounding out the Chief's office, Hudson Darrow was installed as the 2nd Assistant Chief.

In the officer's room, John Hodge, Jr. was installed as captain by his father, John Hodge, Sr., who is a 44-year member of the department. Brian LaMonica, Jr. and Chris Martin were installed as the department's lieutenants for headquarters and station one.

Awards were handed out for several items, including Probationary Firefighter of the Year, Firefighter of the Year, Station awards and number of responses (top responders). In addition, the department was joined by representatives from FASNY, Patrick Perry, son of VP Eugene Perry, and Suffolk County Volunteer Firefighters association Vice President Dan Brooks, who gave Ex-Chief and Ex-Commissioner Eugene Petrcevich proclamations for his 50-Years of Service to the Brookhaven Fire Department and community. This was in addition to his department recognition of this monumental occasion of a half-century of service.

Congratulations to all the chiefs, officers and award winners!