Sitting with me in the firehouse is John Ippolito Jr. John Ippolito Jr. A third-generation firefighter, John Ippolito Jr. has dedicated over 35 years to serving his community. As the current Assistant Chief of the Bay Shore Fire Department (BSFD), John's passion for the fire service runs deep - he's been an active member since joining the Juniors in 1985. After college, John became an EMT and volunteered with the Bay Shore Brightwaters Rescue Ambulance before embarking on a 22-year career with the NYPD, retiring in 2022 from the elite Emergency Service Unit. Throughout it all, John has remained a fixture at the BSFD, earning the prestigious New York State Firefighter of the Year award in 2008 for his heroic actions. Now in his second stint as Chief, John continues the family legacy, with his father, twin brothers, and son Andrew all active members of the department. With an eye for photography that has landed his images in Fire News, John is a true renaissance man of the fire service.