Career Firefighter Gerard Bergeron became a call firefighter with the department in January 1972.  He was hired as a fulltime firefighter in July 1985.  Firefighter Bergeron is certified in Hazardous Materials to the Operations Level, Emergency Vehicle Operations to the Advanced Level and is an Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate.  Firefighter Bergeron is the senior career member of the department and as such serves as Acting Chief in the absence of the Fire Chief.  Firefighter Bergeron served in this capacity for seventeen months until September 2003.  Firefighter Bergeron is a former elected member of the Acushnet School Committee and is the appointed Director of the Acushnet Emergency Management Agency.