Join Us in Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month 2020

Our Hispanic Heritage Month recognition this year features two first responders who have a special love for New York City and the FDNY. Learn more about them today as they discuss their heritage and why they enjoy their careers.

Meet Captain Leonore Joy Garcia

“I love working in EMS because it gives me the ability to help people on a daily basis. This is a career where you know what your purpose is every day and that purpose is to help others,” said Garcia, a 18-year veteran in the FDNY. “I’m Afro-Latina and I lived in the South Bronx for most of my life and my heritage has been a big influence in my life. I love the ability that I have with this career to inspire our youth in the community and to show them that they can be someone who helps and someone who knows how to navigate through tough situations. In my role as a Captain, I also value that I can show them someone who is utilizing her talents to be a leader.”

Lieutenant Douglas Lopez serves at Ladder 24 in Manhattan.

Meet Lieutenant Douglas Lopez

“Working for the FDNY is something that I love because every single day is different. Our work each day can go from one extreme to another and anywhere in between and we’re always doing what we can to help the city every day,” said Lopez, who has served in our Department for nearly 14 years. “I’m Nuyorican. I grew up in Spanish Harlem and then I moved to the Bronx and I’ve been in the Bronx my entire adult life and it feels good to be able to give back to the community in this way. I take great pride in being an officer here as well because I’m learning even more about this career and I’m able to teach the next generation about the many ways we’re helping people throughout our great city.”