Largest Badge Ceremony in Roseville Fire Department's 100 Year History

The Roseville Fire Department hosted a special badge-pinning ceremony Friday for 22 of its members. Those honored were members of the Roseville Fire Academy Class 07-01, as well as several internal promotions. The ceremony took place in the Tower Theatre on Vernon Street. This is a very special and historical year for the Roseville Fire Department. Celebrating its 100 year anniversary, the department will be implementing a second ladder truck company and a second battalion beginning in July 2007. "We appreciate the genuine support we receive from our City Council and the community to continue to grow our services", stated Fire Chief Ken Wagner. "This ceremony marks the beginning of a new era for the Roseville Fire Department. The individuals we will be recognizing are so critical to our overall mission to protect and enhance the safety and well being of our residents, businesses, customers and our partners", Wagner continued. The following individuals will be recognized at the badge ceremony: Battalion Chief John Palmer will be the first of three new Battalion Chiefs being phased in for the second battalion. John is a 30-year veteran of the fire service and began his career in 1976 as a Volunteer Student Firefighter for the City of Rocklin. Hired to work for the Roseville Fire Department by Chief Carl Green in 1981, John has held the rank of Firefighter/EMT, Engineer and Captain. He is also an instructor for Sierra College and helps teach at the Sierra College Regional Fire Academy. John holds an Associate of Science Degree in Fire Technology from Sierra College and has just completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Studies from California State University Long Beach. John is married to his wife, Susan and has a daughter, Michelle and a son, Jeff. John also has a long fire service family history. His late uncle, Vince Lopez, served as Assistant Chief for the Rocklin Fire Department for many years. John's two brothers currently work for Rocklin Fire; Tim is a Battalion Chief and Phil is a Captain. Fire Captains Frank Cervantes is a lifelong resident of Roseville. After graduating Roseville High School in 1980 he became a Firefighter Aide and a Volunteer for the Roseville Fire Department. Frank was hired full time in 1985 and was promoted to the rank of Fire Engineer in 1995. He is a certified Hazardous Materials Specialist and a member of the Technical Rescue Team. Frank is in the process of finishing his Fire Officer Certification and Associates Degree in Fire Technology. He has two sons, Taylor age 18 and Blake age 14. Vincent Milat began his fire service career over 23 years ago as a Firefighter with the St. Helena Volunteer Fire Department. His father, who was also a firefighter, provided the motivation and insight that jumpstarted his career. Within a few months he was driving fire engines and a year later he was promoted to Captain. He then took a position with the Alto Richardson Bay Fire Protection District. Next Vincent took a firefighter position with the Roseville Fire Department. Within a year and a half he was promoted to Engineer. Vincent is married to his wife, Elaine and has a daughter, Kaley and son, Ryan. Art Taylor has 20 years of service with Roseville and has a total of 25 years in the fire service. His career started with North Highlands Fire in 1976 and in 1983 Art went to work for Foothill Ambulance as an EMT-II. He started working for the Roseville Fire Department in 1987 and obtained the rank of Fire Engineer in 1994. Art earned his Associate of Arts Degree in Fire Science from American River College in 1978 and has also completed numerous fire related classes including State Certified Fire Officer and Fire Instructor I. He is also an adjunct instructor for the Sierra College Regional Fire Academy, an instructor for the American Heart Association, and specializes in Technical Rescue training. Art is married to his wife, Bryn and has a daughter, Raychel age 16 and son, Patrick age 13. Fire Engineers Jeffrey Cardoza has been employed by the City of San Jose Fire Department since 2001. He has been a Fire Engineer since 2004. Prior to his employment with San Jose, he served with the City of Woodland Fire Department, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Columbia Junior College Fire Department. Jeff earned an Associates Degree in Fire Science from Columbia Junior College. Derek Carey has been employed by the South Placer Fire District since 1995. Derek has also served as a Part-Time Firefighter with the Loomis Fire District and as a Part Time Fire Engineer with the Placer Hills Fire District. Derek is proudly following in the footsteps of his father, retired Roseville Fire Engineer Mike Carey. John Nail has been employed by the City of Woodland Fire Department since 1997. He has been a Fire Engineer since 2003. Prior to his employment with Woodland, he served with Redding Fire Department as a Paid-On Call Firefighter, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Shasta County Fire Department. John earned an Associates Degree in Fire Technology from Shasta College and a Bachelors Degree in Fire Services Administration from Eastern Oregon University. Abe Neitling has been employed by the Roseville Fire Department as a Firefighter/Paramedic since 2006. Previously he was employed by the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department as a Firefighter/Paramedic, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the US Forest Service. Abe earned an Associates Degree in Fire Science from Lake Tahoe Community College and a Bachelors Degree in Fire Service Management from CSU Sacramento. Scott Oase started his career in the fire service with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection/San Mateo County Fire in 1998 and had promoted to Engineer in 2002. He had then accepted a position with the City of Roseville Fire Department in 2005 as a Firefighter/Paramedic. Scott has an Associate of Arts Degree in Fire Technology and holds various certificates such as Hazardous Materials Specialist and Driver/Operator I. Jamie Pepin has been employed by the City of Davis Fire Department since 1999. He has been a Fire Engineer since 2002. Prior to his employment with Davis he served with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department as a Reserve Firefighter. Rex Tucker has been employed by the El Dorado County Fire District since 2004. He serves as a Firefighter/Paramedic and Fire Engineer. Previously he was employed Montebello Fire Department, Coalinga Fire Department and Manhattan Beach Fire Department. Firefighter/Paramedics Kristine Alward has been a Firefighter/Paramedic with Penn Valley Fire District since 2005. She has also served as a Paramedic with Enloe Ambulance and Firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service. Kristine attended the Butte Fire Academy and earned an Associates Degree in Fire Technology. Kevin Bohatch has been a Firefighter/Paramedic with Folsom Fire Department since 2006. He has also served as a Paramedic with American Medical Response and as a Volunteer Firefighter with El Dorado Hills Fire Department. Kevin attended the Sierra College Fire Academy and earned a Bachelors Degree in Engineering from LeTourneau University in Texas. Dustin DePaoli has been a Firefighter/Paramedic with Sacramento Fire Department since 2003. He has also served as a Paramedic with Medic Ambulance and American Medical Response. Cori Higbee has been a Firefighter with Redding Fire Department since 2006. She has also served as a Paramedic with First Responder Ambulance and a Firefighter with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Cori attended Butte Fire Academy and earned an Associates Degree in Liberal Studies from Gavilan Community College in Gilroy. Jonathan Kubas has been a Firefighter/Paramedic with Sacramento Fire Department since 2005. He has also served as a Lab Skills Instructor for NCTI. Jonathan earned an Associates Degree in Paramedicine from American River College and a Bachelors Degree in Economics from Santa Clara University. Steven Minnich has been a Firefighter/Paramedic with Sacramento Fire Department since 1999. He has also served as an EMT and Paramedic Instructor with American River College and NCTI. Steven also served as a Paramedic with American Medical Response. Anthony Moroso has been a Firefighter/Paramedic with Marin County Fire Department since 2005. He also served as a Paramedic with First Responder Ambulance and as a Firefighter with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Anthony also served in the U.S. Army. Anthony attended Butte Fire Academy and earned an Associates Degree in Fire Science from Butte College. Mark Page has been a Firefighter/Paramedic with Sacramento Fire Department since 2005. He also served as a Paramedic with Sierra Doctors Medical Group and Medic Ambulance and as a Reserve Firefighter with South Placer Fire District. Mark attended the Sierra College Fire Academy and earned Associate Degrees from Sierra College in Liberal Studies and Fire Science. Ryan Williams has been a Firefighter/Paramedic with Sacramento Fire Department since 2005. He has also served as a Paramedic with American Medical Response and First Responder Ambulance. Ryan earned an Associates Degree in Multi-Cultural Studies from DeAnza Junior College and a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from UC Santa Barbara. Fire Inspector II Rob Arnett was promoted from Fire Inspector I to Fire Inspector II in March 2007. Rob has been employed with the Roseville Fire Department for 3 years. Prior to coming to the fire department Rob worked as a police officer for 15 years. Rob's education includes an Associates Degree in Social Sciences and numerous fire and public safety course certifications. Rob is married and has twin, 12 year old daughters. Administrative Assistant Natalie Rickman was promoted from Administrative Clerk II to Administrative Assistant on May 25, 2007. She has been an employee of the Roseville Fire Department for three years. She is a Sacramento area native. Natalie and her husband Rory have been married for 20 years, and have a daughter, Samantha and a son, Grant.