Tactical Medic / Shared services

[NickZag]

Greetings. I'm a firefighter/medic and my agency and our local PD is looking into a shared service agreement to have a handful of our medics on they're SWAT team as a tactical medic. This seems to be a hot topic right now in the LEO community as an industry standard and would provide an increased safety component for officers and civilians alike. I was wondering if your agencies have a shared service agreement with your fire department or ALS service provider (AMR for example) and if so how you set this up and got the ball rolling? Any contacts or policies/MOU's you could share or provide would be very helpful for us as we're in the infant stages of this. Both I and the officer in charge of our PD's SWAT are anxious to get this moving as we're the ones doing all the grunt work getting this started. Feel free to PM me if that would be easier. Any help you could provide would be great. Thanks!

[Ron-Solo]

LASD has Deputy Sheriff/Paramedics assigned to the Emergency Services Detail. They are part of the Special Enforcement Bureau which contains the Special Weapons Teams and Canine Services Detail. All of them complete SWAT school upon initial assignment. Most of the Paramedics are selected from the Special Weapons Teams. Although not a "requirement" I doubt there has been a Paramedic in the unit that didn't start out with SWT or Canines.

In addition to responding to every SWAT call out, the LASD Paramedics provide EMS response to the Angeles National Forest areas and the LASD Air Rescue helicopters are staffed with two ESD Paramedics. LASD has had Deputy Sheriff Paramedics since the mid 70's.

[NickZag]

Thanks. Our PD is a small department and is having a hard time hanging onto they're officers due to financial issues like most of us public agencies out there and doesn't have the ability to hire they're own medics unfortunately.

[Mason McDuffie]

Our agency is looking into this as well. I was actually hoping they would send me to a combat medic school haha.

[Rango]

Thanks. Our PD is a small department and is having a hard time hanging onto they're officers due to financial issues like most of us public agencies out there and doesn't have the ability to hire they're own medics unfortunately.

Brother I feel your pain...

We just lost a FANTASTIC Medic/officer to a bigger Agency. :roll eyes: Can't blame him, but he is missed.

[Just-in]

City of Fremont has a few (2 I believe) Firefighter EMT-P's that were selected and sent to an academy. I read about it in a local newspaper if that helps at all.

[1911su16b870]

It will depend on the PD's policies on what or how much you will be involved. Some PDs may require you be PC832 sworn/go through the academy. You being on the perimeter while the team goes in to serve the warrant/secure the scene would be a good benefit IMO.

[Ron-Solo]

Nick, you might try contacting Riverside County Sheriff's Department. They do something like you are looking at with AMR. My son is a paramedic with them and was contacted about a similar program.

You may want to look into the PD making the medics reserve officers with a special MOU where the reserves get paid for their time. With LASD, the reserves don't get paid, except for certain functions like the Rose Parade or major incidents. LASD's Reserve Forces Bureau might be able to assist you with that aspect.

Good luck. Having paramedics trained and equipped for high risk operations is an important part of tactical operations.

Hope this helps, and I wish I could do more.

[NickZag]

Thanks for the info everyone

[18Dmedic]

They would have to be SWAT trained AND be sworn officers...just for liability reasons alone. If something went sideways and they had to use lethal force, it may cause problems for the department involved.

But I love the idea. I wish more departments did this. The ones I know were SWAT guys that were sent for medic training. But it would work vice versa.

Otherwise, like others mentioned, they would be on scene and respond after the entry team secured the scene.

[ChrisO]

Our local agencies in San Joaquin county have always had us (AMR) stand by for SWAT calls. We used to have a partnership with Tracy PD for SWAT medics. I know the local sheriff dept is trying to incorporate SWAT medics, they have sent a few deputies through an EMT course. It's not unusual for deputies/officers to come to classes we host at AMR, mostly related to GSW/stabbings, which we have a lot of experience with in San Joaquin county. To be honest a medic is nice but not necessary in this setting. A competent EMT is sufficient if you are not in a rural setting. It's not like you'll be doing low light intubation, needle thoracentesis, or starting a drip. At most you will be applying pressure, maybe a tourniquet (if pressure isn't sufficient) , and doing an exfil so an ALS unit can transport. I do wish more departments utilized Medics/EMT's as well.

[ChrisO]

They would have to be SWAT trained AND be sworn officers...just for liability reasons alone. If something went sideways and they had to use lethal force, it may cause problems for the department involved.

But I love the idea. I wish more departments did this. The ones I know were SWAT guys that were sent for medic training. But it would work vice versa.

Otherwise, like others mentioned, they would be on scene and respond after the entry team secured the scene.

I agree, it's a LOT of liability for SWAT Medics that are not LEO's and the department utilizing this service if S*** goes sideways. This is why a lot of departments are shying away from contracting this type of service and sending their guys through Medic/EMT programs.

[bargasm]

In SoCal, Colton and San Bernardino fire have tactical medics, or at least did as of a few years ago. I don't have any contacts in either dept but a ton of good guys and I'm sure a call to any station could get you in contact with someone who could help you out. Good luck with your program and I'm definately jealous.

[Dee_Dub]

I know Rialto has swat medics as well. I do know when it comes to LE they are under the direction of the PD. I believe they have their level III. Im not sure what the SBSO does now but all of their swat medics were volunteer and were not medics but nurses. Lots of training lots of time away from home.

[415dog!]

I was moderating a training exercise at the rose bowl last month. Pasadena fire dept went in to one of the scenarios with ballistic vests. That was interesting... But to answer your question, our team leaders just asked who's interested In attending a combat medic course. I can ask for the course info if you'd like, But it be in la county somewhere. They probable know each agencies SOP