Duty in the face of danger

Three Saugus firefighters who assisted police officers who were stabbed in August 2020 attack were among those honored at “Firefighter of the Year Awards” ceremony

  Saugus Fire Department Capt. Chris Vinard and firefighters Sean Bohannon and Greg Cinelli responded to a call to assist police at a Tuttle Street home on Aug. 6, 2020, after a suspect in a criminal investigation allegedly locked himself inside and threatened to harm himself. The Fire Department’s role that day was to open the door for police and stand by in case medical aid was needed.

  But the firefighters’ task evolved into more dangerous duty after three police officers suffered stab wounds at the hands of a knife-wielding man after they entered the house. Firefighter Cinelli was credited with stopping the attack by disarming the suspect. Captain Vinard and Firefighter Bohannon maintained control of the scene until additional police arrived and transferred the suspect to custody.

  The case was one of several acts of heroism cited yesterday in Worcester’s Mechanics Hall at the 32nd annual Firefighter of the Year Awards ceremony as state Department of Fire Services officials and Gov. Charlie Baker honored firefighters from 14 Massachusetts fire departments. The three Saugus firefighters received the Governor’s Group Citation for Meritorious Conduct for their response to the stabbing of the three Saugus police officers. They were cited “for extraordinary actions that helped to control the situation and prevent any further harm to the injured officers.”

  Additionally, Firefighter Cinelli was one of six firefighters who received the Medal of Valor “for his courage, quick thinking, and life-saving actions in the face of an armed assailant, despite the danger to himself.”

  “Firefighter Cinelli, who has served several combat tours as a U.S. Marine and has a brown belt in Jiu Jitsu, stepped in to help stop the attack,” according to the Department of Fire Services. “He grabbed the knife, disarmed the assailant, and placed him in a shoulder hold while police officers secured the struggling suspect’s hands and legs.”

  The wounded officers recovered from their injuries.

  Meanwhile, Steven Sossong, the Tuttle Street resident charged in connection with the stabbing incident, awaits trial on multiple charges, including three counts of armed assault with intent to murder, four counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon and larceny of a motor vehicle. Police had gone to Sossong’s home to investigate a report of a stolen U-Haul rental vehicle that had not been returned.

The Saugus Fire Department heroes

  Two of the Saugus firefighters honored yesterday are longtime veterans of the local department. Capt. Vineyard has been a member of the Saugus Fire Department since June 1998. He has also worked close to 15 years as a paramedic for Cataldo Ambulance Service, Inc. of Peabody.

  Firefighter Cinelli joined the Saugus Fire Department in 1999. He was previously honored at a “Firefighter of the Year Awards” ceremony in 2015, with an Excellence in Leadership Award. He’s a U.S. Navy veteran. After joining the Saugus Fire Department, he rejoined the Navy as a reserve and completed five combat tours of duty. He spent six years away from his family.

  Bohannon, a 2008 graduate of Chelsea High School, joined the Saugus Fire Department in April of 2017. He attended the University of New Haven and Bunker Hill Community College. He spent six years with the U.S. Army National Guards, including service in Kuwait.

  “Being a firefighter was something that I thought about a lot during my deployment,” Bohannon said in an interview with The Saugus Advocate soon after becoming a firefighter.

  “It seemed to me an honorable profession – something that would be a good career and way to give back by helping people,” he said.

“Acts of bravery and dedication”

  Governor Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence M. Reidy yesterday joined State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey in honoring the state’s heroic firefighters.

  “These awards recognize acts of bravery and dedication that are remarkable even by the high standard set for Massachusetts firefighters,” Governor Baker said.

  “Through their courage, compassion and commitment to helping others no matter the risk to themselves, the men and women we honor today represent the very best of the fire service,” the governor said.

  “The Commonwealth’s firefighters demonstrate bravery and professionalism every day, and our communities are grateful for the service of these dedicated public safety professionals,” Lt. Governor Polito said. “It’s a privilege to recognize this year’s award winners and thank fire service personnel across the Commonwealth for doing such a difficult, dangerous job so well every day.”

  Secretary Reidy said the heroic deeds of the firefighters being honored “personify the qualities of bravery and heroism.”

  “Guided by their training, experience and instinct to help, each person we honor today used their training to serve people in their greatest hour of need. On behalf of all the state’s public safety professionals, I offer them my congratulations and gratitude for their examples of excellence.”

  Fire Marshal Ostroskey noted that the Firefighter of the Year awards “recognize their individual and collective acts of bravery and service that truly go above and beyond the call of duty.”

  Governor Baker, Secretary Reidy and State Fire Marshal Ostroskey presented six medals of valor, six individual awards for meritorious service, six group awards for meritorious service, one Norman Knight Award for Excellence in Community Service and one Stephen D. Coan Fire Marshal’s Award. The awards and recipients are as follows:

Medals of Valor:

• Carver Lieutenant Christopher J. Mahoney
• New Bedford Firefighter Paul Medeiros
• Saugus Firefighter Greg Cinelli
• Somerville Lieutenant Danielle O’Hearn
• Springfield Firefighter George Vasquez
• Worcester Firefighter Jon Paul Paige

Individual Awards for Meritorious Conduct

• Attleboro Firefighter/Paramedic Nicholas W. Sheehan
• Brewster Firefighter/Paramedic Gretchen Riley
• Harwich Firefighter Josh Ford
• Kingston Firefighter Christopher J. Veracka
• Lynnfield Firefighter/EMT Nicholas M. Holmes
• Sutton Fire Chief Matthew Belsito

Group Awards for Meritorious Conduct

• Brockton – Lieutenant Benjamin Denny, Lieutenant James W. DuBeau Jr., Firefighter Christian Bugbee, Firefighter Paul Jones, Firefighter Corey Lacey, Firefighter Edward J. Lee III, Firefighter Robert Orcutt and Firefighter Alexander Warren
• Dartmouth Fire District 1 – Captain Ryan Cabral and Lieutenant Ryan P. Snell
• New Bedford – Captain Kurt Houghton, Lieutenant Louis Miranda, Firefighter Eric Britto, Firefighter Andrew R. Coderre, Firefighter Darien Jacintho, Firefighter Kenneth Letourneau, Firefighter Paul Medeiros and Firefighter Manuel Mota, Jr.
• Saugus – Captain Chris Vinard, Firefighter Sean Bohannon and Firefighter Greg Cinelli
• Somerville – Deputy Chief Michael Anzalone, Lieutenant Thomas Bellini, Lieutenant Danielle O’Hearn, Firefighter Christopher Carroll, Firefighter Charles Conway, Firefighter Ryan M. Epps, Firefighter Douglas Henry, Firefighter Alex Massiah, Firefighter John O’Connor and Firefighter Mark Wall
• Springfield – Firefighter Jonathan Shea and Firefighter George Vasquez

Norman Knight Award for Excellence in Community Service

• New Bedford Firefighter Bryce Fortes

Stephen D. Coan Fire Marshal Award

• Department of Fire Services Public Information Officer (Retired) Jennifer Mieth