Mickuleit ‘pinned’ as new fire chief
Wednesday night, approximately 30 Pine Islanders arrived at Fire Station #1 for the “pinning’ of new Fire Chief Benjamin Mickuleit.
Four of the five Fire Commissioners were present: Ken Cox (chair), Ken Honc (secretary), Michael Dreikhorn (fire commissioner) and Tonya Player (vice chair). The fifth Commissioner John Cammick was “present” via speaker phone.
“Today we are proud to ‘pin’ our new fire chief,” Cox said, welcoming those in attendance. “We’re all very excited for Ben. Because of the new chief’s positive attitude, we’re going to have some fantastic growth in this community. We’re going to see more people involved in the fire district, more people proud of the fire district. That’s where the fire district needs to be, not just in our mind but in our heart. Ben is going to accomplish this for us.”
Cox introduced Bob Fritt, council for the Fire District, to administer the oath of office.
“Instead of having Ben recite all of this I will make things simple and ask Ben to swear ‘I do’ to each part of the oath,” Fritt said.
“Do you Benjamin Mickuleit hereby declare that you will support the Constitution of the United States of America, the Constitution of the state of Florida, and that you will faithfully discharge the duties of Chief of the Matlacha Pine Island Fire Control District to the best of your ability?”
Mickuleit: “I do.”
“Will you respect, honor and obey the policies and procedures of the district that you serve, and will you promote and protect the best interests of the Matlacha Pine Island Fire Control District?”
Mickuleit: “I do.”
“Do you recognize the badge of your office as a symbol of public faith and accept it as a public trust.”
Mickuleit: “I do.”
“Do you hereby dedicate yourself to the citizens and visitors of the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District to insure their safety in the discharge of your duties so help you God?”
Mickuleit: “I do.”
After receiving congratulation from Fritt and those in attendance, Chief Mickuleit’s wife, Megan, “pinned” her husband’s badge and collar pins in place.
“I’d like to thank you all for being here today,” Mickuleit said. “I wouldn’t be in this position or had this opportunity without all of you – especially my family, my friends, my co-workers and the community. Without all of you I wouldn’t have this opportunity – so I thank you so much.”
The M/PIFCD protects approximately 45 square miles, including Bokeelia, Pineland, Pine Island Center, St. James City, Matlacha, Matlacha Isles and Cape Royal.
The M/PIFCD provides numerous public education programs including public safety seminars, pet locator, fire extinguisher training, station tours, car seats, smoke alarm inspections and adopt a community smoke alarm installations. The department also conducts health programs: Vial of Life (free), CPR, AED and First Aid Certification (American Heart Association), collection of sharps containers, Safe Place and Safe Haven and blood pressure screening.
“The firehouse is open to the community and I’d like to invite the community to come by and meet our first responders,” Mickuleit said.
“I think Ben Mickuleit has a wonderful attitude,” Player said. “Ben is going to do great things for our community and I’m excited to be here to watch it happen.”
Administrative offices are located at Station #1 at Pine Island Center, 5700 Pine Island Road, Bokeelia, FL 33922. The non-emergency number is 239-283-0030.
Check the website for additional information: pineislandfire.org/