ROCKLAND – Call him lieutenant now. Rockland firefighter Mike Cole swore an oath, added a pin to his jersey, and pledged a continuation of loyalty to the department he’s known for 17 years.

After a brief ceremony, Monday morning, April 24, Cole commenced orientation to the aspects of the title not already known to him. Next month, he will take over the leadership role being vacated by retiring Lieutenant Jamie Leo.

“Mike Cole has been ready for this position for a long time,” Fire Chief Chris Whytock said. “He’s been a leader in the Rockland Fire Department since before he took this position. He’s definitely the go-to guy. If you need something done, Mike’s the guy to do it.”

Whytock described Cole’s high quality of work.

“He’s just a good guy,” Whytock said. “It [lieutenant] definitely was his position to fill.”

Cole, a resident of Thomaston, started with Rockland Fire/EMS in the year 2000 while living in Belfast. At that time, he had just finished a 12-year physical therapy and corpsman stint for the Navy.

“Then I got a glimpse of this and switched over,” he said.

Cole is the training and safety coordinator for the station, as well as an EMT and firefighter. In the recent past he has led a roof-collapse training scenario for his peers. Just last week he helped Rockport firefighters become familiar with escape options using hoses and other readily-available equipment. He’s also adept at training for situations with Hazmat, confined spaces, and infections.

“Our training program is top notch,” Whytock said. “When it first got established in 2001/2002, Mike was assigned that task as a new firefighter and did exceptionally well. We are equipped and staffed and trained well because of Mike.”

Five people went through the application process for the lieutenant position, according to Whytock. They took a written test in the morning; starting at noon they told interviewers how they’d handle different scenarios within the position; then, in the evening they sat before a full board for oral interviews.

According to Whytock, the employees looking to get promoted start studying years before the test. They have three books to read, RSOPs to learn, as well as a lot of other items to remember.

“The process essentially takes years to complete,” he said.

The board of interviewers included fire personnel from Rockport, Augusta, Brunswick, and Rockland.

Whytock said bringing in other towns for the hiring process helps.

“They don’t know the people personally, though they may know them professionally.” he said. “It brings in a little more validity to the conversation.”

 The department has three lieutenants. One per shift.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com