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Manteca fire conducts promotion ceremony
fire promo
From left, Tyler Gulan, Onacis Illan, Joshua Shuey, Trent Nicholson, Traig Smith, Scott Cunningham, Sterrie McLeod, Franco Torrice, Jeff Dennis, Bill Canfield and David Marques of the Manteca Fire Department are administered the oath of office from City Clerk Cassandra Cardini-Tilton.

Fire Chief David Marques officially received his badge.

He led off Monday’s Manteca Fire Department Badge Pinning Ceremony held at the Civic Center. His family led by his wife, Penny, and their children had the honor of pinning his badge.

He was thrilled to have “the opportunity to lead this amazing group of people.”

Included were Bill Canfield, who moved up to Assistant Fire Chief, along with Jeff Dennis, Franco Torrice and Sterrie McLeod – each were promoted to Battalion Chiefs.

Also receiving promotions were Scott Cunningham (Fire Marshal), Traig Smith (Captain) and Trent Nicholson (Engineer).

The fire department welcomed recent new hires Joshua Shuey, Onacis Illan, and Tyler Gulan.

Marques served as interim fire chief since January 2021.

He has over 25 years of service to the Manteca Fire Department – in between, he had a brief stint with the Santa Clara Fire Department before returning to Manteca in 2000.

He became captain in 2005 and was elevated to battalion chief in 2011.

Marques was also recognized for running the city’s emergency operations command center, where he oversaw municipal responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

Manteca City Manager Cassandra Candini-Tilton administered the oath of office to those who were promoted along with the new hires.

In addition, Fire Captain Brad Schemper honor those in the department for their landmark years of service.

Along with Marques, Torrice was recognized for his 25 years of service.

Smith and Captain Tony Taberna were honored for 20 years with the department while Engineer Armando Blanco, Engineer Wes Chamberlain, Captain Travis Gooch, Engineer Brian Swift, and Captain Rob White each had 15 years.

Executive Assistant Aimee Rubio was recognized for her 10 years of service.

Those with five years on the fire department included Engineer Travis Bonds, administrative assistant Elizabeth Correia, firefighter Jerry Garcia, firefighter Michael Horabuena, Engineer Brett Jones, firefighter Chase Keener, firefighter Chris Martinez and firefighter Kenton Shipherd.