Cohoes hires new police officer, promotes firefighter to lieutenant
COHOES, N.Y. >> Cohoes City Hall was filled with family, friends, along with city officials Monday afternoon as firefighter George Primeau Jr. was promoted to the position of lieutenant and Gage Blizinski was sworn in as a police officer.
Primeau, a lifelong Cohoes resident, has been with the fire department for nearly 13 years and is the son of the late Cohoes Mayor George Primeau.
Blizinski, 21, is a Cohoes High School graduate and graduated from SUNY Albany with a degree in criminal justice. Blizinski will now attend the police academy for six months.
“This is really an exciting day for us here in the city of Cohoes,” said Cohoes Mayor Shawn Morse. “I think this is actually the first time that we’ve had a ceremony that welcomed a police officer in commendation with a promotion in the fire department.”
Police Chief William Heslin and Fire Chief Joseph Fahd also congratulated each member from their department during the ceremony and wished them both luck in their new roles.
“I’ve loved every minute of [this career] and I hope you enjoy it half as much as I have,” Heslin said to Blizinski.
“There’s no greater job [than being a firefighter],” added Fahd.
Primeau said he was grateful for his promotion and that he is looking forward to his new responsibilities.
“It’s great,” said Primeau. “It doesn’t get any better than this, to move up in the ranks and to be a career firefighter is the best job in the world and I’m excited.”
Primeau said he will now be in charge of more training and that there will be days when he is in charge of the shift.
“The biggest thing is serving my community,” said Primeau. “I remember as a kid always not being able to cross that yellow line, I always wanted to be on that other side and luckily I got that opportunity.”
Blizinski said he was looking forward to fulfilling a dream of his and is excited to join the police department after training in the police academy.
“[ This is] a great oppor- tunity that I’m very thankful for,” said Blizinski. “It [has] always been a lifelong dream of mine to become a cop, especially in Cohoes, where I grew up and I’m looking forward to it.”