Cohoes firefighter captain retires after 28 years

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Firefighters in Cohoes are celebrating the career of a longtime service captain.

A walkout ceremony was held Friday morning for Captain Otto Madsen. Madsen is retiring after 28 years of service.

He began his work as a firefighter in 1994 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2011 – and then to captain in 2014. He also served as the EMS coordinator for the department for nearly two decades.

Madsen says the one thing he will take with him is the pride in serving the community.

“These are people that I don’t even know, but are actually part of my family. They’re my hometown people,” he said.

He says he will continue his work with Mohawk Ambulance Services as a director of the Training and Education Division.