Leadership Award Created In Honor Of Late Moorestown Fire Chief

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Late Moorestown Fire Chief David Constantine was honored during Burlington County’s first fire academy graduation ceremony since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020 last week, officials announced.

A leadership award was created in honor of Constantine, who was a longtime fire instructor at the academy. He was the primary instructor for the graduating Firefighter Class 96 until his passing this spring.

Constantine was a second-generation firefighter for the Moorestown Fire Department for 40 years, and he served as Chief of the Department from 2003 to 2009. Constantine was a life member of Relief Engine Co., the New Jersey Fireman's Relief Association and the Moorestown Relief Association. Read more here: Former Moorestown Fire Chief, Cop David Constantine Mourned

Firefighter Thomas M. Jones Jr. of the Jacobstown Fire Company in North Hanover received the award. Jones was one of 59 new firefighters from three classes of cadets and 23 fire officers from two classes who graduated during the Burlington County Emergency Services Training Center’s ceremony on July 28, according to county officials. All 82 graduates completed months of instruction, training and drills.

“This graduation ceremony is always a special occasion and never more so than this year with the pandemic and the 20th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks,” Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Dan O’Connell, liaison to the Department of Public Safety, said during the ceremony. “While 9/11 will long be remembered as one of our darkest days, full of confusion, fear and loss, it will also be remembered as a day of incredible bravery and heroism by the acts of seemingly ordinary individuals. It is that same type of dedication that’s been demonstrated here in Burlington County, in New Jersey and across our country as we saw firefighters and first responders rush to fires, accidents and countless emergencies amid the uncertainty and health risks of the COVID pandemic. We know the men and women graduating tonight are willing to make the same sacrifices and take the same risks in service to their communities. On behalf of a grateful Burlington County, we salute you, and thank you for your service.”

The 17 graduates from Firefighter Class 95 began their training on Jan.5, 2020. Their classes moved online three months later due to the pandemic. The class of cadets was able to return to the training center in July and complete their instruction and training under new COVID-19 protocols created by the Burlington County Health Department and Department of Public Safety leadership.

During the training, there were no coronavirus cases reported among any of the cadets training at the center, officials said.

“Today, when you go out to your fire stations, your legacy starts. The legacy of you as a firefighter in Burlington County starts today,” Delaware River and Shore Region State Fire Coordinator and retired Deputy Fire Chief of the Trenton Fire Department Robert Tharp told the graduates. “How you present yourself, your work ethic, how you operate on a fire ground, all that starts today.”

Other award recipients were graduating Firefighter Aiden Friddell, of the Willingboro Fire Department, for most improved student, and graduating Firefighters Scott Johndro, of Medford Fire Department; Steve Holmak, of Bordentown Fire District No. 1; and Timothy Hartmann, of the Chesterfield Fire Department, for academic achievement.