Thursday, October 1, 2026
City Manager Charles Theofan swore in three new recruits as members of the Long Beach Fire Department, where they will serve in one of the busiest and most lauded departments on Long Island.
Russel Cosban-Stewart, John Innella, Jr. and Gregory Kavazanjian, all lifelong Long Beach residents, took the oath on March 3 as proud family members looked on. Also in attendance were Council Vice President Mona Goodman, Councilman Michael Fagen, Chief of Department Scott Kemins, Executive Officer of Uniformed Force Lt. Mike Geller, First Assistant Chief Richard Corbett and fellow members of the department.
Theofan noted that all three have family ties to members of the LBFD and the NYFD, and that the new recruits are the “best of the best, and will perform magnificently on the job.”
Chief of Department Scott Kemins welcomed the new firefighters to the department, stating, “When you’re on the job, endeavor to treat each and every person like they’re your family — to consider how you would want your mother, father, sister or brother to be treated.”
Kemins added that the LBFD is proud to have one of the quickest response times in New York. The three young men will attend the Westchester Career Fire Academy for a 14-week program before they begin their tour of duty.
The Career Fire Academy, a basic firefighter-training program, is a collaborative effort among the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services, the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control and the career chiefs. The program is designed to provide firefighters with the essential knowledge and basic skills necessary to perform their duties as part of a fire-fighting team.
“We are very happy about these new hires,” Union President William Piazza said. “This is the best way to keep the firefighters and citizens of Long Beach safe. Upon their graduation from the academy, overtime costs will go down, as it has in the past when our roster has increased. This is an encouraging step in the right direction.”
