Two New Haven firefighters, Dan Scotto and Derek Helmecki, were promoted to captain in a ceremony at the New Haven Fire Department’s training academy. Mayor Justin Elicker was on hand to swear them in and address the department.

Leadership Philosophy

Both Scotto and Helmecki emphasized the importance of leading by example. Scotto, who has completed 11 years with the department, said, “I’m a big proponent of leading by example. I feel like by me doing the right thing, the people around me are going to do the right thing, and that’s how we all succeed.” Helmecki, who was also marking his 11th year with the department, echoed this statement, saying, “I’m a hands-on type of guy. I like to show my subordinates that I’m never going to ask them to do anything that I wouldn’t do myself.”

As captains, Scotto and Helmecki will oversee eight firefighters, manage key documentation, and take charge of training the firefighters under their command. They will also be responsible for discipline and accountability, which Mayor Elicker noted can be a challenging aspect of leadership.

The promotion ceremony was attended by Mayor Elicker, who praised the department’s work, citing a recent fire on Donna Drive as an example of their dedication to the community. Scotto and Helmecki both emphasized that their focus remains on serving the community, with Scotto saying, “At the end of the day, the ceremonies, the promotions, all that stuff — it’s great for us. But at the end of the day, we are all here for the citizens. That’s our only goal.”

Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.