DEARBORN –  The city of Dearborn recently welcomed two groups of firefighters during swearing-in ceremonies at the Dearborn Administrative Center.

On Feb. 5, Mayor John B. O’Reilly joined Fire Chief Joseph Murray, Deputy Fire Chief Joey Thorington and Assistant Fire Chief D.J. Begeman in recognizing Nolan Arnold, Kevin Lauer, Keith McKae, Austin McLellan, Dan Nixon, Sean O’Neill, and Jason Tackaberry.

Mayor John B. O’Reilly (far right) joins (from left) Fire Chief Joseph Murray, Assistant Fire Chief D.J. Begeman, Deputy Chief Joey Thorington, and (second from right) City Clerk George Darany in welcoming new firefighters (from left) Austin McLellan, Keith McKae, Sean O’Neill, Nolan Arnold, Dan Nixon, and Jason Tackaberry in a swearing-in ceremony at the Dearborn Administrative Center on Feb. 5. Not Pictured: Firefighter Kevin Lauer. – Photo Courtesy of Dearborn Fire Department

On Feb. 20, Mayor O’Reilly and the Fire Department welcomed Avery Calsada, Marcel Davis, Terry Karsten, Leah Maynard, Cody McGaw, Steven Michowski, George Smith, and Steven Timmons.

Despite the city’s promised efforts to further diversify it’s police and fire force, none of the newly hired firefighters seem to have Arabic names. About 50 percent of the city’s population is of an Arab background, according to estimates by the Arab American Institute.

All were sworn in by City Clerk George Darany during the ceremonies.

The new firefighters begin their jobs with the City building on relevant experience and education.

Profiles:

Arnold was an EMT and paramedic for Medstar Ambulance and has been an intern/cadet with the Dearborn Fire Department since 2015.

Calsada attended Schoolcraft Community College and has worked as a firefighter for the Woodhaven Fire Department. He also works at the emergency room at Beaumont Hospital in Dearborn.

Davis worked as a firefighter with the Detroit and Inkster Fire departments. Karsten attended Wayne County Community College and Michigan Academy. He has worked as a paramedic for the Detroit Fire Department.

Lauer was a senior paramedic at Jackson Community Ambulance, and was a firefighter for the Jackson Fire Department and the Plymouth Township Fire Department.

Maynard attended Henry Ford College and Schoolcraft Community College. She worked for a private EMS in Wayne and Oakland counties and as a firefighter for the Westland Fire Department.

McGaw attended Schoolcraft Community College and Madonna University. He worked as a firefighter for the Northville and Westland Fire departments.

McKae is a certified paramedic, and grew up in Dearborn, attending Dearborn
High School and Northwood University. He worked as a firefighter for the Livonia Fire
Department.

McLellan worked as an emergency room registered nurse at McLaren Hospital in
Lapeer, and for the Attica Township Fire Department.

Michowski attended Schoolcraft Community College and has worked as a firefighter with the Woodhaven Fire Department. He is also working at the emergency room at Beaumont Hospital Dearborn.

Nixon is a Dearborn native. After attending Edsel Ford High School and Schoolcraft College, he worked as a firefighter for both the Northville and Novi Fire departments, and as a paramedic for Huron Valley Ambulance.

O’Neill grew up in Dearborn Heights. He attended Schoolcraft Community College before serving in the U.S. Marine Corps as an ordinance technician and sergeant/patrol leader. He was a firefighter for Highland Park and Inkster.
Smith attended Schoolcraft Community College and worked for the Romulus Fire
Department.

Tackaberry was a paramedic for Star EMS and worked as a firefighter for Royal Oak Township Public Safety.

Timmons is from Dearborn. He attended Edsel Ford High School, Henry Ford College and worked as a private EMS for four years.