Fire Department Honors Mechanic Who Saved New York $700,000

Fire Department Honors Mechanic Who Saved New York $700,000
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The Associated Press
12/1/2016
Updated:
12/1/2016

NEW YORK—A Fire Department of New York mechanic who has saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars through his ingenuity has been honored.

Jomar Pichardo’s job is to keep the city’s fleet of Emergency Medical Services ambulances running while working out of the fire department’s garage in the Long Island City section of Queens.

The fire department says he’s saved it more than $700,000. Among other things, he’s invented ways to refurbish ambulance batteries and car parts that would normally be tossed away and replaced.

Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro (NY'-groh) honored Pichardo during the FDNY’s Administrative Medals and Awards ceremony on Thursday. The three-year department employee received the Jack Lerch Award.