Copperas Cove Swears In Joshua Viguers; Father Pins Badge, Fifth Hire

Copperas Cove Fire Department swore in firefighter Joshua Viguers and held a badge-pinning ceremony at Fire Station No. 1 Monday afternoon, Feb. 24, with his father, Jonathan (Jon) Viguers, pinning the badge. Jonathan Viguers serves as a firefighter/paramedic with the Killeen Fire Department and is identified in coverage as an 18-year department veteran.

Fire Chaplain Russ Cochran opened the ceremony with a prayer before Fire Chief Doug (Douglas) Matthijetz spoke and administered the oath to Viguers. Chief Matthijetz told Viguers, “You’re going to be trusted to take care of many patients and victims. These patients and victims are mothers, fathers, grandparents, sons, daughters, to someone. You should treat them as family as well. These families and victims are entrusting you with their lives and their property. Whether you’re on the job or off duty, you’re always a firefighter, and you must always, always do the right thing.” Matthijetz also advised Viguers to “always keep training, never stop learning, and he’ll have a long and successful career.”

Viguers completed extensive EMT and firefighter training at Central Texas College and graduated from the firefighter training program run jointly by Killeen ISD and Central Texas College, according to news coverage; one account noted that “his training began way before that.” Coverage shows both parents, Meredith and Jon/Jonathan Viguers, attending the pinning and posed with Joshua after the ceremony.

The hire marks the fifth new firefighter added to the Copperas Cove Fire Department so far this year. Four other firefighters — Lane Burch, Brent Cearley, Emily Grant and Nate Logiudice — were sworn in Jan. 29, and the Feb. 24 ceremony brings the department’s new hires total to five for the new year.

Local coverage positions this pinning as part of leadership changes at the department: Cove Leader-Press described the Feb. 24 event as the second badge-pinning ceremony held since Matthijetz “took the helm of the department on Jan. 23,” while KCEN reported Matthijetz was set to officially assume duties Monday, Jan. 26, and noted he brings more than 35 years of fire service experience with leadership roles in operations, administration, emergency management and professional development.

Photographs circulating with coverage show Viguers taking his oath from Chief Douglas Matthijetz, shaking hands with the chief as his father looks on, and standing between his parents, Meredith and Jon/Jonathan Viguers, after the pinning at Copperas Cove Fire Station No. 1. The ceremony completes the department’s fifth hire of the year and follows Chief Matthijetz’s directive that new firefighters treat patients like family and pursue continuous training.