Alison Russo remembered as FDNY promotes EMS lieutenants, paramedics
Lillian Bonsignore, chief of the FDNY Emergency Medical Service, speaks during a promotion ceremony on Randall's Island on Monday. Credit: Marcus Santos
Nearly a month after the unprovoked killing of FDNY paramedic Alison Russo, the department promoted almost four dozen officers Monday, encouraging them to follow the lead of the Huntington resident and to become role models for those under their command.
In a ceremony on Randall's Island, the FDNY promoted 41 Emergency Medical Service lieutenants to take on supervisory roles throughout the city while five others took an oath to serve as paramedics, providing critical lifesaving medical care in the field.
FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens said the event, at the department's Training Academy, comes during a "trying time" for the department. On Sept. 29, Russo was working at EMS Station 49 in Astoria when she was stabbed to death while getting lunch.
"We know her loss will be felt forever and she will never be forgotten," Hodgens said. "One thing I know I can count on. I know all of you will use her career and dedication to service as a model for the type of leaders and paramedics you want to be: hardworking, dedicated and compassionate. Just like she was."
The FDNY holds a promotion ceremony for EMS lieutenants ad paramedics on Monday at the FDNY Training Academy on Randall's Island. Credit: Marcus Santos
Lillian Bonsignore, chief of EMS operations for the FDNY, said the 46 new EMT lieutenants and paramedics will face daunting challenges day-in and day-out while serving the city and its residents.
"This is not an easy profession," Bonsignore said. "We have made careers, and we've made lives, out of responding to other people's tragedies. And it takes a very special person to be the one who shows up at somebody else's worst moment. Not many people have it in them to do that. And you absolutely do."
Peter Zisopoulos, 34, of Queens, pleaded not guilty earlier this month to charges of second-degree murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Authorities said Zisopoulos stabbed Russo over a dozen times as she was walking on 20th Avenue during a break to get a sandwich.
Zisopoulos was ordered held for a psychiatric examination after his defense attorney said he believed his client didn’t understand the nature of the indictment against him.
FDNY Chief of Staff Elizabeth Cascio said the promotion ceremony is "exactly the kind of event that would make Captain Russo proud. Seeing all of you standing here, ready to take on leadership roles and grow in the department. She was truly one of the best of all of us. And we know that you will aspire to your new roles to be just like her."
At her funeral Russo the FDNY posthumously promoted Russo from lieutenant to captain.
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
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