Kevin Kiley

Mr. Speaker, Greeting · 33 wordsI rise today to honor and congratulate former City of Folsom Fire Chief Ken Cusano on the occasion of his retirement, following 28 years of service and dedication to protecting the Folsom community.¹Greeting Claims · 232 wordsChief Cusano attended Folsom High School and received his bachelor’s degree from Sacramento State.² Since joining the fire department in 1998, Chief Cusano climbed the ranks, starting his career as a firefighter paramedic and eventually taking the title of chief in October 2020, ³⁴which he held until his retirement. Throughout his time as chief, he led a team of over 90 professionals and was known for strengthening the department during a time of unprecedented growth in the city.⁵ During his tenure, Chief Cusano lent his expertise in the design and construction of Fire Stations 39 and 34 and the remodel of Station 38.⁶ In addition to the new fire stations, Chief Cusano also played a key role in creating a medic unit and hiring extra personnel to keep up with the rapid growth of Folsom. Under the chief’s steady hand and leadership, the mental health of the men and women in the department became a priority. The forward- thinking approach was evident when the department introduced the region’s first peer support dog and other proactive approaches to support the resilience and mental well-being of all department employees.⁷ The chief’s dedication to the quality of life in his community could also be found with new initiatives, such as helping to implement a social host ordinance to deter illegal fireworks, ⁸as well as the seasonal closure of certain open spaces which posed fire risks. Thanks · 106 wordsChief Cusano has played a vital role in helping to shape Folsom’s future. He faced his job and its challenges with a spirit of doing everything he could to keep the community safe. He will undoubtedly be missed by the city’s grateful residents, businesses, and the men and women in his department that he called home for almost three decades. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and California’s Third Congressional District, I am honored to join the community in recognizing Fire Chief Ken Cusano’s retirement. I thank him for his 28 years of exceptional service and leadership, and wish him well in retirement.Thanks