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| Attleboro's newest and first ever female firefighter, Jessie Harvey, gets a kiss from friend John Georges after he pinned her badge on during City Hall ceremony Friday. (Staff photo by Keith Nordstrom)
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ATTLEBORO - Five new firefighters, including the city's first woman firefighter, were sworn in Friday by Mayor Kevin Dumas during a ceremony at city hall.
The five new hires will bring the city up to the full complement of 73 firefighters, the number allowed by ordinance, Chief Ronald Churchill said.
Firefighters sworn in were, John Buckley of Attleboro, Marcio Barcelos of Fall River, Jessie Harvey of Dorchester, Joseph Padykula of Seekonk and Jacob Springs of Brookline.
Harvey is the city's first woman firefighter.
Two of the group served as firefighters elsewhere and will not need to attend the state's fire academy.
Harvey was a member of the Hingham Fire Department and Springs was a member of the West Barnstable Fire Department.
All the new firefighters are paramedics, to reflect the department's evolving mission that includes a majority of medical calls.
Earlier this week, four new police officers were sworn in, bringing the number of patrol officers to 63, which is two shy of the number allowed by ordinance.
Dumas said the aim is to fully staff both departments.
"It's been a Herculean effort because we constantly have to backfill positions," he said.
GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com.
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