Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta Announces Death of Probationary Firefighter Jamel M. Sears
Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta announced that Probationary Firefighter Jamel M. Sears died at Mt. Sinai Medical Center today, where he was taken yesterday after falling unconscious following completion of a training exercise at the Department’s training academy on Randall’s Island.
Probationary Firefighter Sears, 33, was appointed to the FDNY on July 1, 2008, and was enrolled in the 23-week Probationary Firefighters Training Program. He fell unconscious at about 11:30 a.m. after successfully completing an 18-minute training exercise where he donned full firefighting gear and performed a series of tasks and functional skills. Firefighters on scene tried to revive him but he never regained consciousness.
Probationary Firefighter Sears, a lifelong Bronx resident, was a four-year U.S. Navy veteran (1995-1999) and served aboard the USS Alaska. He also worked at TD Waterhouse as a customer rep and at Keyspan Energy as an operating mechanic prior to joining the FDNY. He graduated from All Hallows High School and attended Bronx Community College before enlisting in the Navy.
He is survived by his wife, Sherita, a New York City Police Officer assigned to the 41st Precinct in the Bronx, and their two children, son Mahlek, 12, and daughter Jya, 8.
BS way to lose someone - Training Accident. Remember folks we are all one brotherhood...we take care of our own - and if they fall we take care of their families. That is what we signed up for