Colón’s Corner: Turning Points — The Major Steps Forward In 2024

A year of more change, growth, and lessons that will further pave the way for my future

In last year’s year-in-review column, the focus then centered on what I felt was a major transition into adulthood, gaining steady employment, gaining a vehicle, and with that gaining valuable on perseverance in addition to adjusting to newfound roles and establishing newfound confidence and personal relationships with those major changes.

Another 12 months later, I can look back on what my personal mission was in 2024: furthering the growth, capitalizing on my newfound good fortune and pushing myself to places I had previously been afraid to go to, and say happily that I was able to succeed. 2023 saw me at last breakthrough and lay the foundation, while this year saw me springboard into new challenges.

The first one? Writing a book. Never in all my years of podcasting did the idea of transcribing those impactful conversations and turning them into a written archive cross my mind until frequent collaborator and good friend Billy Ryan, a retired NYPD First Grade Detective, mentioned it a few times across our conversations. I will not lie, writing a book is not easy. But the final product, Good Folks, Mad City: Life on The Edge in The FDNY & NYPD a book that has achieved significantly greater success than I thought it would, made the endeavor more than worthwhile.

Being a published author now, I have a newfound perspective on patience, time management, and commitment. We live in a results now society where instant gratification is so often the name of the game. As is the case with everything, there are pros and cons to that. But as someone who has bore the brunt of the cons more times than I care to count, the process to writing a book was a refreshing and, in many respects, calming change of pace. It took five months, and in those five months the valor or sticking with something until you fully see it through was a simple, yet many times overlooked principle, I was reminded of from first sitting down with collaborator Justin Leeb in January to publishing at long in last June following final corrections by editor extraordinaire Sammy Peters.

The outpouring of support and love that followed was amazing as well. I have always been my own worst critic which admittedly at times has made me my own worst enemy. I beat myself up and still at times battle with first, not comparing myself to others, and second, focusing on what I have achieved and how far I have come versus what I have yet to do. It is not always easy to do that, but I make it a matter of prayer and with God’s help and that of my friends and family, I progress and with time, I do not get in my way as much as I used to. A major example of that being the support I got from my book signings, the first one in New York City.

Another held locally in West Haven, Connecticut drew equal support to match. A resounding success thanks in no small part to my circle of friends and family, I am now ready to write my next book, hoping that project will bring me equal if not greater success.

Still, another goal saw me in hot pursuit: a career in the fire service. Since the age of three, I have always wanted to be a firefighter. It was at the quarters of Engine 6, Truck 4, and Emergency 3 (an EMS unit), that then Lieutenant Gary Tinney, a longtime friend of my family’s put three-year-old Mike Colón on the back of the tiller cabin on Truck 4. Since then, it is all I ever wanted to be. There were obstacles to overcome to even have a chance of getting hired.

Physically, I needed to muster up. I am not a big muscular guy; I never have been. I work with really strong guys who can bench press all 128 pounds of me with one hand, but I am not a huge person myself. If I was going to achieve a career as a fireman, physical conditioning and strength was needed, so I ramped up my gym routine.

At the quarters of the firehouse, there is a gym on the second floor. With the permission of one of my Deputy Chiefs, I went in there and hit it hard. Trained by the titans on each of the four shifts I work with. Without them, I would never have made it past the CPAT.

The CPAT? What’s that you may be wondering? For those of you not familiar, the CPAT (Candidate Physical Assessment Test) is the test all across the country need to pass in order to even be considered for a firefighting position. Consulting of eight exercise stations, you have 10 minutes and 20 seconds to complete all stations, while you try to complete that, you’re wearing a 50-pound weight vest and a helmet. It is a test not necessarily of strength but rather of endurance. Stamina is everything. I learned that the hard way.

Four times. That is the amount of times I took the CPAT before I finally passed it. Three times I failed. Bitterly might I add. The second and third times I made it all the way to the final station before running out of time.

With time literally and figuratively running out on me, each time I got right back into the gym with the guys and worked. Finally on October 9, with 23 seconds to spare, I passed. Passing it was of the essence regardless, but what made it especially pressing for me is a few months prior, I had officially commenced the journey to pursue a career as a firefighter by submitting my application to be a firefighter in my hometown of New Haven.

I will admit, there was reluctance on my part. But after some encouragement from colleagues and friends Ed Cooke and Rich Decker, I put in for it. Still, I could go nowhere without that CPAT certification. The deadline was October 24th to pass it. Otherwise, my application was dead in the water. Feeling the pressure, I pushed past the fears, silenced the self-doubt and embraced the suck if you will. I got it done and with that, was reminded of what I am truly capable of.

Again, that would not be possible had it not been for all the guys that trained me. For as much as I get my chops busted by them all, they give me as much love as they do grief, if they did not give two craps about me, they would not have helped me. For that, I am extremely grateful.

The process is not done yet. I have a lot of work to do and soon God willing, an academy to get through. Learning the skill sets needed for the job, learning the factors needed undoubtedly to be successful for what I hope will be a fruitful career. I’m nervous, excited, anxious, and eager all rolled into one. But as I head into that chapter and challenge, I fall back on what I learned and accomplished this year. I will be 25 in February which is crazy to think and as I prepare to mark a quarter century on this earth, I look back fondly on my 24th year knowing I took the steps I needed to and did not sabotage myself.

I like to think of myself as something of an overachiever, that is when I give myself time to actually think. That was reinforced this year, and I hope to reinforce at a higher level in the year ahead.

The Podcast

Growth continued on the Mic’d in New Haven front as well. The audience boomed in terms of viewership, and the edition of miniseries such as The Best of the Bravest: Nationwide and The Beat: Profiles of Police Nationwide allowed me to expel the program beyond the greater New York City area.

With a continuing focus on the first responder community and chronicling the unforgettable experiences they have to share, I believe the podcast truly reached an apex in terms of production, conversation quality, and guest that has it in its best form yet.

And although the impending fire academy will put the program on an extended hiatus while I complete my training, the library and audience built will serve as a valuable archive for those who want to hear about the backbone of our society in those who respond to the various emergencies we face on a daily basis.

We gained over 500 new subscribers in 2024. Before long, I am confident we will hit our next milestone of 3,000. Responsible for that is both Producer Victor who has done a bang-up job behind the scenes of getting the show where it needs to be technologically and allowing the show to flow seamlessly in real time through his monitoring of show aspects I cannot for fear of neglecting the guest and the aforementioned loyal and lovely audience who keep on coming back and in the process, keep on reminding me of why I do it in the first place.

Personal Highlights

Moment 1: NYPD ESU Graduation

The year was filled with fun and amongst those moments were three particularly great days that stand out. First, my trip down to Floyd Bennett Field to witness the graduation of the latest class of new NYPD Emergency Service Unit cops. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love the NYPD and in particular that unit. They will always hold a special place in my heart.

Invited down by my friend NYPD ESU Lieutenant Keith Gallagher (miss you my friend we gotta catch up soon!) this was something I was not under any circumstances going to miss.

Congratulations to everyone who graduated that day. I hope your first year in ESU has gone well!

Moment 2: My Book Signing!

Held at the legendary O’Hara’s bar and restaurant in Lower Manhattan in the shadow of the World Trade Center, this establishment is the pinnacle for first responders around the world. With patches of different fire and police departments adorning the walls from top to bottom it is a place that freezes you in time. It is sobering, unique, and awesome all at once and its aura and uniqueness hits you as soon as you walk through its doors.

On a beautiful summer’s day, I walked on through. With the help of friend, former podcast guest, and retired FDNY Firefighter Tim Brown, a frequent guest of the establishment and friend of O’Hara’s owner Mike Keane, we were able to schedule the event and with that successfully set up shop in a reserved corner all for myself.

With Sammy Peters, my wonderful editor, and a few more friends on hand, the day was elevated when my family who previously told me they would not be able to make it, surprised me last minute! A rewarding day that capped off my journey to becoming a published author, it was a great way to celebrate a major milestone.

Moment 3: The Gettin’ Salty Cruise

For the second straight year, I boarded the SS John J. Harvey, a retired FDNY fire boat and on a nice summer’s afternoon, sailed around the Hudson River, thoroughly admiring the views of both Manhattan and New Jersey while sharing company with some heavy hitting FDNY legends in August.

As an associate producer of the Gettin’ Salty Experience podcast, a popular fire service program hosted by two retired members of the FDNY Special Operations Command, this was my ticket to hanging out with those I have interviewed both on their program and mine, and enjoy both their stories and some amazing food to go with the aforementioned views.

IN MEMORIAM

NYPD ESU Detective Robert Sivori: (1981-2024)

Before I get to my concluding thoughts, there are three individuals I would like to pay tribute to who we lost this year way too soon. The first is NYPD Emergency Service Unit Detective Robert Sivori.

On July 7, 2024, Rob, a 19-year veteran of the NYPD, died at the much too young age of 42. His untimely death was a suicide. He had served in Manhattan’s Truck 1 of the Emergency Service Unit where his father Bob Sivori had worked before recently working as an instructor at ESU’s Specialized Training School. I had only known Rob professionally, we followed one another on social media and I had the pleasure of interacting with him a couple times during my visits to Floyd Bennett Field to hang out with my E-Cops.

When I went down to see the ESU graduation, a class that happened to feature his brother John Sivori, I got the chance to see him again. Little did I know that that would sadly be the last time. I did not have the pleasure of knowing Rob on a deeply personal level as some of my friends did but what I can tell you is anytime we interacted, he was a very humble and nice person who made you feel at ease. He was quiet but in a very stoic way that without question made him such a good E-Man.

Rob left behind a wife and three young children in addition to his brother, parents, and many more family and friends who have been deeply impacted by his tragic loss. Rob, I am so sorry you were in such pain at the end my friend and I wish you were still here. You and the many good deeds you performed over the course of your exemplary career will never be forgotten. A reminder to those of you reading this that if you are struggling and mentally burdened, please reach out. It is ok to have down moments, we all have them, what is not ok is to suffer in silence. No one can shoulder their load alone. We all need one another.

U.S. Customs Agent Miles Sonn (1955-2024)

At 69 years old, Miles was healthier than people 30 years his junior. Eating right and exercising everyday, he was doing all that you are supposed to do to stay in shape and even as he approached 70 was not showing any signs of slowing down still working as an Inspector for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Prior to that, from 1977 until his retirement in 2006, he was in federal law enforcement as a member of both the Border Patrol and U.S. Customs leading the Miami Vice Crockett and Tubbs life, chasing down bad guys all over the world.

On December 15, 2024, while at his home in Parkland, Florida, Miles, strong as an ox and fit as a fiddle, collapsed and died. The cause was a blood clot following recent foot surgery. It is so unfair and wrong that a man like him who was on the front lines for so many years risking his life and was in such great physical condition could be cut down so suddenly by a sudden clot of all things. Yet sadly, this is the reality.

We chatted every day, we texted, shared Instagram reels with one another and told of our latest life adventures and what we had planned. To think I won’t hear from him anymore or get those funny messages with one of a kind stories behind each one again is something that has not registered and I am not sure will for quite some time. Miles is survived by his wife and children, who followed his footsteps into law enforcement and many friends such as myself who were blessed to know him and have him in our lives. Miles, you were one of a kind my friend and I will see you again someday.

NYPD Detective Richard Teemsma (1950-2024)

Rich simply put, was a mensch. A former Marine, his time in the Corps. propelled him to a career in the NYPD, of which he joined in 1982. Serving 16 of those years in both Special Operations and the Detective Bureau with stints in the Emergency Service Unit from 1986 until 1993 and later the Bomb Squad from 1993 until 2002.

On three occasions, I was fortunate to chronicle Rich on my program and each time he delivered. He was a hell of a storyteller and a hell of a guy. Chatting with him quite a bit off the air, he was quick-witted and funny as can be. He was of the old school, never making a big deal about what he did, simply viewing it as his job. In early 2002, just months after the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, Richie, emotionally battered from losing so many friends in the attack, including close friend and former Bomb Squad partner Detective Claude ‘Danny’ Richards, retired.

In the years since, he battled the demon that was and is 9/11 illness. He showed tremendous resolve and strength. Fighting cancer like hell and winning several battles. Sadly, Rich did not win his last battle with the cancer he came down with because of the time he and so many others spent down at Ground Zero looking for the lost. On June 22, 2024, after one truly courageous fight, Rich died. He was 74. We had just spoken a month prior and looked forward to meeting out on Long Island for a nice hearty meal.

Surviving Rich is his wife, children, one of whom is also on the NYPD themselves, his grandchildren, and a bevy of friends poorer for not having him around. Richie, your courage and grace in the face of illness will always leave a lasting impression on me. Thank you for everything my friend. I love and miss you too.

In Conclusion

Every day, good or bad, is an education. The older I get, the more I learn to take it in stride. It is life. And at the end of the day, life, for all its twists and turns, is a very beautiful thing. So long 2024, thanks for the memories and lessons.

Mike Colón is the host of the Mic’d In New Haven Podcast which can be found on all podcast platforms and is simulcast in video form on YouTube