Wednesday, January 13, 2021: Police officers, Firefighters and EMS first responders from across the state were vaccinated at Hartford HealthCare’s vaccine clinic located at the CT Convention Center Wednesday.  

“We want to thank our brothers and sisters working in police, fire and our ambulance paramedic personnel, this is a great honor to do this and we’re very excited to deliver these vaccines,” said Jeffrey A. Flaks, president and CEO Hartford HealthCare. Flaks said about 3,000 first responders have been vaccinated already.

“During this pandemic we provided personal protective equipment when it was very scarce, we provided COVID-19 testing and now we’re at this next phase of future relationship building by providing this vaccination,” said Charles Johndro, system EMS medical director, Hartford HealthCare. “I feel like this is not just a vaccination, but a protection and big help.”

Managing the vaccination process with two different Pfizer and Moderna vaccines logistically requires a tremendous amount of attention, precision, focus and logistical support. Arlia said the hospital received over 9,000 doses of the vaccine Wednesday. Keith Grant, senior system director, infection control at Hartford HealthCare, shared a story that has led to a mantra at the hospital group. A few months ago, I had a really good experience with the police,” Grant said. “There was a young lady that was trying to hurt herself and when the police responded I was on scene and she kept saying, ‘why don’t you just let me die?’ and the police officer said something that just resonated with me. The police officer kept saying, ‘family don’t let family die,’ so we’ve adopted Connecticut as a family at HHC.”

Jason Diaz, Lt. with the Hartford Fire Department, was here getting vaccinated to send a message to the community. “We’re here getting vaccinated to show the community that we’re fighting this vaccine along with other occupational hazards, not just fire, but most importantly to fight covid-19. So, we’re encouraging the community to fight this ongoing battle so we want to do it together,” he said.

Stamford Fire Fighters, Local 786, IAFF
Voted to re-affiliate with the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters of Connecticut

Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut

&

Connecticut Career Fire Chiefs Association 

 Joint Statement – COVID-19 Vaccine

Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut Election 2020

These are the candidates that the UPFFA endorsed that committed to supporting Firefighter issues

CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES

CONNECTICUT HOUSE

CONNECTICUT SENATE

IAFF Endorsement Philosophy

Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters of Connecticut

QUESTIONNAIRE FOR 2020 Candidates

CT delegates help put Biden over top at unconventional Democratic convention

[President Pete Carozza accompanied by Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Hartford CT Mayor Luke Bronin,
Hartford L760 President Jason Diaz, Hartford L760 Secretary/Treasurer Arturo Rosa
 and Hartford L760 sister Candia Baptiste]

With the help of all 75 Connecticut delegates, former Vice President Joe Biden officially became his party’s presidential nominee Tuesday evening in an unusual roll call that featured videos from every state and U.S. territory.

With Gov. Ned Lamont and Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin socially distanced beside him outside a Hartford fire station, firefighter union president Peter Carozza said firefighters put “their lives on the line every day to protect our nation.”  “It’s a badge of courage,” the former Waterbury firefighter said. “But while we are protecting your families, we need a president who is committed to protecting ours. And that’s Joe Biden.”  

Carozza said Biden “has the courage we respect. And the commitment for working Americans we need now.”

He wrapped up his brief speech by saying  “on behalf of our governor, Ned Lamont, I am honored to cast Connecticut’s 75 votes for our next president, Joe Biden.”

Connecticut was among the states to have no delegates committed to Biden’s former rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. But many states held their primaries before Sanders dropped out of the race and the senator has hundreds of delegates for him at the Democratic National Convention.

After Connecticut announced its vote, Delaware, Biden’s home state, said it would pass so it could later provide the delegate votes to allow Biden the threshold of 1,991 votes to win the nomination.  The unconventional roll call meant local delegates could make their historic announcements with important state symbols in their background, such as the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., the iconic Las Vegas sign in Nevada and even Biden’s childhood home in Pennsylvania.

It also allowed the convention to continue its theme of inclusiveness and its  effort to appeal to average American voters by featuring rank-and-file Democrats, like Carroza, and teachers, nurses and small business owners.

The Federation of State and Provincial Professional Fire Fighters (FSPPFF) held its officer elections by mail-in ballot and virtual submission in December.

Two officers – Chair Pete Carozza (Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters of Connecticut) and Vice-Chair Bobby Lee (Hawaii State Fire Fighters Association) were re-elected to their positions. Texas State Association of Fire Fighters (TSAFF) Secretary-Treasurer Brandon Day was elected FSPPFF Secretary-Treasurer, a position left vacant by Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois Secretary-Treasurer Tom Roate who decided not to run for reelection.

“Brother Day comes to our executive board with a wealth of knowledge and experience,” says Carozza. “I know he will be a great asset and am looking forward to working with him.”

Day also serves as 11th District Field Service Representative and Garland, TX Local 1293 vice president. He is also a member of the IAFF Disaster Relief Go-Team.

“The FSPPFF has served as a great resource for all of us to stay informed about issues affecting the fire service and how those can best be addressed,” says Day. “I am looking forward to being a part of the process.”

The FSPPFF meets periodically to exchange legislative, political action and current issues affecting firefighters in states and provinces and to provide a means for a stronger relationship and coordination between state and provincial associations.

Peter Carozza, Chairman

Robert Lee, Vice-Chairman