Accomplished Gurnee firefighter adds to impressive resume

Gurnee firefighter/paramedic James Pellitteri has another line to add to his considerable resume.

Pellitteri has been promoted to captain and battalion chief for the Gurnee Fire Department. He was sworn in by Mayor Kristina Kovarik during a recent village board meeting.

“It’s an incredible honor to do this,” Kovarik said just before administering an oath of office to Pellitteri. “Very excited to have you taking this position.”

Among his duties, Pellitteri spoke on behalf of the fire department in helping to make the case for requiring sprinklers in new residential construction when he appeared before the Gurnee village board in May.

In 2006, he was one of three Gurnee firefighters named to a statewide team charged with responding to incidents such as building collapses or train derailments. As training officer in 2002, he accepted an offer from Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville to pursue a fitness and nutrition program for firefighters.

Pellitteri’s pitch to Chief Fred Friedl in 2000 led to Gurnee becoming one of the few northern Illinois fire departments at the time to have paramedics on bicycle patrol so they could reach difficult areas, such as the Des Plaines River Trail and special events in the village.

Pellitteri was accompanied by his family and several fire department colleagues at his swearing-in ceremony at Gurnee village hall when he was elevated to captain and battalion chief.

“I’m thankful for this opportunity,” Pellitteri said. “And to me, being a firefighter is truly a miracle and I count it as a blessing. I thank my Lord for all the opportunities and I plan on serving with everything I have, so thank you.”