Recognizing and honoring Battalion Chief Joaquin Enrique Colon, Jr. on the occasion of his retirement following 34 years of loyal and dedicated service to the City of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, The Council of the City of Philadelphia is pleased and proud to recognize and honor Battalion Chief Joaquin Enrique Colon, Jr. the first Latino Chief Battalion on the occasion of his retirement following 34 years of loyal and dedicated service to the City of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, Battalion Chief Colon is the proud father of five wonderful children and grandfather to twelve amazing grandchildren who led a successful career while juggling his time as a father, grandfather, husband to Elizabeth Rodriguez-Colon, caring for his mother and father battling Alzheimer’s, and as a Battalion Chief of the Philadelphia Fire Department; and

WHEREAS, After serving his country in the United States Air Force, Battalion Chief Colon began his lustrous career at the Philadelphia Fire Department in 1983 and was later promoted to Lieutenant in 1999, and Captain in 2006. He was again promoted to Battalion Chief in 2011, where he became the first Latino in PFD history to receive that ranking; and

WHEREAS, Battalion Chief Colon is well respected by his superiors and colleagues, and his presence at the Philadelphia Fire Department will be sorely missed. His spirit and enthusiasm have been a permanent and positive influence, and he is held in high esteem by all. Joaquin has received numerous honors throughout his career for his definitive impact on the City and its citizens, including 2006 Outstanding Fireman of the Year from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, citations from City Council and Pennsylvania 3rd Senatorial District, and being named Uniformed Citizen of the Year by 6 ABC News; and

WHEREAS, Battalion Chief Colon, Jr. has been an active member of the Spanish American Professional Firefighter Association (SAPFA) where he has helped and mentored a number of Puerto Rican and Latino Fire Department recruits, as well as, assisting his fellow members advance within the Fire Department; and

WHEREAS, On February 3, 2017 Battalion Chief Joaquin Enrique Colon, Jr. will be joined by the Spanish American Professional Firefighter Association (SAPFA), his loving friends, family, and fellow fire fighters to commemorate his historic career at the Philadelphia Fire Department; and

WHEREAS, We in this Council, join in wishing Battalion Chief Joaquin Enrique Colon, Jr. well in any future endeavors and hope his retirement is filled with happiness, good health, and the joys of family and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes and honors the thirty-four years of loyal and outstanding service that Battalion Chief Joaquin Enrique Colon, Jr. has dedicated to the Philadelphia Fire Department. We commend Joaquin for his great work in the community, and extend the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.

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