Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. (right) and Fire Chief Joseph Murray (second from right) witness the swearing-in of three new Dearborn firefighters, all of whom participated in the Dearborn Fire Department’s Cadet Program. Shown here (from left) are City Clerk Kathleen Buda, and Probationary Firefighters Timothy Duda, Matthew Bajjey and Matthew Allen Ferrell. They were sworn in during a ceremony on July 18.

Three lifelong Dearborn residents were recently sworn-in as firefighters after earlier participating in the Dearborn Fire Department’s Cadet Program, which helps local students prepare for public safety careers.

The three join two other successful Cadet Program graduates hired by the Fire Department in August, 2010.

The Cadet Program was initiated six years ago by Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. and then-Fire Chief Nazih Hazime as a way to attract Dearborn youth to firefighting careers.

The local students participate to gain valuable training and experience while they pursue the necessary education and certifications at fire academies, which can take three years.

The Cadet Program is similar in concept and operation to the Police Department’s Intern Program, which also was initiated by Mayor O’Reilly, along with Police Chief Ron Haddad.

The intern program recruits young people from the Dearborn community who have an interest in public safety.

Four graduates from Fordson and Edsel Ford high schools are active in the internship program, which began in July 2010, and the police plan to have Dearborn High graduates soon. Another two local students will start as unpaid interns in the fall.

These programs support the extensive recruiting efforts pursued by the Dearborn Fire and Police departments.

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