Lt. Col. Stagnaro Departs After 24-Year Career





A consummate professional will soon be leaving the ranks of the Prince George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department. The retirement announcement of Lieutenant Colonel Victor Stagnaro was made by Fire Chief Eugene A. Jones on Monday evening, January 25, 2010. Fire Chief Jones stated, “Deputy Fire Chief Stagnaro had had a stellar career with the Fire/EMS Department and has served the citizens and the men and women of our Department with the utmost professionalism. He has indicated his intention to retire and I wish him well.”

Throughout his 24-year career, Stagnaro has placed his work ethics and values on family, honesty and integrity. Many within the Department describe him as being mild-mannered and a calming force in the face of emergencies and diversity. He is known as being a tremendous leader. Stagnaro has received numerous awards and commendations during his tenure including receiving a Distinguished Service Award in November 2009, a Unit Citation for his work on the DC Serial Arsonist Case, and the Apartment and Office Buildings Association (AOBA) Annual Award.

During his 24 years with the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department Victor Stagnaro has served in numerous Fire/EMS Stations; serving as a firefighter and fire officer at: Beltsville, Laurel, Branchville, Calverton, Chillum and Hyattsville. As he progressed through the leadership ranks he also served as an instructor at the training academy and as the Department’s Public Information Officer. He commanded multiple Fire/EMS Stations while serving as a Battalion Officer and as a Major, he served as the Executive Officer to the Fire Chief and then went on to command Fire Prevention/Investigations and Advanced Emergency Medical Services.

Before taking over as the Emergency Operations Command, Stagnaro was appointed in October 2008 to serve as the Deputy Fire Chief responsible for the Fire/EMS Department’s Operations Center, Logistics and Supply, Administrative Compliance, Apparatus Maintenance and the Training Academy. His most recent assignment was that of Emergency Operations Commander (EOC). The Emergency Operations Command includes: Fire/Rescue Operations, Advanced Emergency Medical Services, Operational Safety, and Quality Assurance. These elements provide emergency fire and rescue services and basic ambulance services, the advanced life support and specialized fire and rescue functions, including high-rise, confined space, and underwater rescue. In addition, Quality Assurance focuses on monitoring, evaluating and adjusting the level of emergency and non-emergency service that is provided to our citizens through training and discipline. He is credited with helping to reduce the amount of overtime paid on a daily basis to record lows.

Lieutenant Colonel Victor Stagnaro was the highest ranking member with a Hispanic origin within the ranks of the Fire/EMS Department. He will take some well-deserved leave until his final day with the Department in mid-February. Victor Stagnaro has been married for 26 years and is the father of 7 children, ranging in age from 12 to 25, and resides with his wife in the Annapolis area.

Acting Lt. Col. Derrick Lea will move from his current position as the Commander of Administrative Services to take over Emergency Operations Command which is the largest and busiest Command within the Fire/EMS Department. No replacement for the vacant Administrative Services Command has been selected.

In an interview held last year, when asked what his most rewarding memory of his career was, Stagnaro responded, “I really feel that most everyday is rewarding. Of course, I don’t love every bit of every day. But by and large, everyday is rewarding or has the potential to be rewarding. I do miss the opportunities to get on a fire truck or ambulance and actually interact with the citizens that we are helping, but I learned at some point that, the Department can do so much more in protecting lives and property by developing good policies.

I have been involved with doing CPR on folks that survived and I have put out fires or have been part of a team that put out fires. It is rewarding to know that at least some of their belongings were saved. Those events are always rewarding.

However, over the past several years I was able to work with the Apartment and Office Building Association in placing battery back up smoke alarms in the majority of all apartments in the County that was a far reaching policy that has the potential to save an untold number of lives. I was also involved with placing more EMS Supervisors with Advanced Life Support skills in cars, making them more mobile and coordinating ALS services in the field, those two changes come to mind as some of the most rewarding because its affects can be so far reaching and the lives and property that are saved may never be known. Though I am not actually touching patients and putting out fires I know that lives are saved and property is protected because of a change of policy with which I was involved.”

Comments

  1. Good Luck Deputy Chief Stagnaro.


    A Fireman's Prayer

    When I am called to duty God wherever flames may rage.
    Give me strength to save some life whatever be its age.

    Help me embrace a little child before it is too late.
    Or save an older person from the horror of that fate.

    Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout.
    And quickly and efficiently to put the fire out.

    This is a Fireman's Prayer

    And if according to my fate I am to lose my life.
    Please bless with your protecting hand my children and my wife.

    Instrumental -
    Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout.
    And quickly and efficiently to put the fire out.

    This is a Fireman's Prayer

    And if according to my fate I am to lose my life.
    Please bless with your protecting hand my children and my wife.

    This is a Fireman's Prayer
    This is a Fireman's Prayer



    Prayer for Retirement



    In the center of my awareness is the profound knowing that God and I are one. And as I reach out in prayer, I know I am reaching inward to the Holy Presence that abides with me always.

    The God of my understanding has been with me through my learning, my vocation, and my leisure pursuits – for all of my life. There is no place and no circumstance that is separate from God. Right now, I am {considering/planning/enjoying/experiencing} a phase of my life that we call retirement. From my vantage point, I am considering all the miraculous twists and turns that my life has taken. I am grateful for being right here in this powerful place, right now.

    I bless my retirement years. I see myself in a state of truly understanding and appreciating who am I and who I am becoming. I live life to the fullest with each day being a slice of my story that has meaning, substance, and laughter. I make living my values a priority. I engage with life in a manner that is generous with others and with myself. My gratitude runs deep and I lavishly love those close to me, savoring our times together.

    I envision my retirement years as healthy, active, and interesting. I value my health and I bless my diet, my activities and my doctors. Everything works in harmony for my health and well being.

    May my life be a legacy of goodwill, love, service, and joy. I easily find ways to express my joy and keep the cycle of happiness going. God blesses my days of retirement as all the pleasures of life rush to meet me daily. For this, I am grateful beyond measure. Amen.

    Thanks,
    Firefighter Thomas J. Robinson #5197

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