Departments utlizing Tactical Medics?

[CACard]

Greetings,

I was wondering if any of you guys had knowledge of SRT/SWAT teams that bring Tactical Paramedics on ops. I am planning on becoming a police officer and would like to study Paramedicine once employed to add to my professional skill set. After talking to an EMT instructor who works as a Tactical Medic here in Maine, it sounds like the profession really blends both careers that interest me. He also mentioned that if I wanted to pursue the tactical medic career path I needed to leave Maine since the state isn't very progressive in that area. With a year left of school I'd like to start figuring out where I should begin looking and am having trouble finding a place that lists more then a tolken number of SRT/SWAT teams.

If you have any suggestions, or know of any agencies that utilize Tactical Medics I'd love to here about them so I can start researching where I want to begin my career.

Thanks so much

[Tim Dees]

If you want to be both a paramedic and a cop, you might try to get the paramedic ticket first. Paramedic certification requires quite a few internship hours that will be difficult to schedule once you're a cop. Also, depending on where you live, you might have to go to a larger city to do your internship so as to get in the required number of procedures that might not come along as often in a smaller community. A friend of mine was a medic in a coastal area of rural Oregon. She had to go to Portland, not just for her internship, but to ride a shift with a crew there once or twice a month, as she had to do X number of codes, intubations, IVs, etc. each quarter to retain her certification.

For some more insight on agencies that use tactical medics, you might try our sister site, EMSResponder.com. There is also a link to their discussion forums at the bottom of the Officer.com forums index page.

[Soon2Be]

The OPP uses tactical medics on their TRU (Tactics and Rescue Unit) and PERT (Provincial Emergency Response Teams). This is new to the organization.

http://micro.newswire.ca/release.cgi...1636-2&Start=0

I'll see if I can find more information for you.

[Kieth M.]

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has SWAT officers, who were already SWAT members, then were crossed-trained as Paramedics. Many Metro/SWAT members are EMT's.

[Five-0fromSoCal]

We have paramedics on our dept who are SWAT medics. They also conduct rescue missions in the ocean, mountains, and swift water using Sea King rescue helicopters. We've been using SWAT medics for many years.

[D.o.D cop]

Wow....I'm a reservist in the Army, to be more specific, I'm a Trauma Specialists (Serious Medic), that's one of the brownie points I got when I was taken into consideration for being hired.

[Can_Rookie]

In Calgary, AB - the agency I'm going for - they do use Tactical Paramedics. These individuals are members of Calgary EMS, full time paramedics - who are trained as Tactical Paramedics, and assiged to the Tactical EMS (TEMS) section. When our Tactical Unit is called out, TEMS officers also get called out...a blend between Calgary Police and Calgary EMS.

Now I know things work a lot differently down there in the US than up here...but what about taking some TEMS courses on your own coin, if it will make you more employable? Remember, in order to become a paramedic - you usually have to train yourself, and that can cost some serious $$$ depending on your circumstances - whereas police officers are paid while they train. You might want to take that into consideration when making your decisions.

If you want to be a police officer as a career, but still study paramedicine - it might be possible to become a police officer, and have your department pay for your studies in paramedicine. I know several police agencies up here in Canada that will pay for their members to go to college/university, or some kind of other school, on a part-time basis, and produce a schedule that allows the members to attend. Not sure how it works down there though, or what your department's policies will be.

You could go the other route, as suggested. Do your EMT training, take a TEMS course, and see what your options are after that. Either way, if you do end up becoming a police officer and have a TEMS qualification, it could certainly make you more competitive when the time comes to get into a TEMS or related position.

Just my 0.02.

[irishlad2nv]

Wow....I'm a reservist in the Army, to be more specific, I'm a Trauma Specialists (Serious Medic), that's one of the brownie points I got when I was taken into consideration for being hired.

68W Combat medica last time I checked. Never heard of it being referred to as a "trauma specialists" unless you are a PA or a MD in the Army. Usually a combat medic wishing to further their skills gets their EMT or Paramedic.

Are you in a SF reserve unit? Just be cautious if you utilize your "army" training in LE. Make sure your agency will cover you if you utilize what the Army taught you as opposed to CPR, etc from the American Heart Assoc.

CA...larger agencies are using the Tactical Medics, but it's still a new thing for most, since most cities, etc have their own Fire/Ambulance services. However having the training such as a Paramedic, even an EMT can help on SRT/SWAT teams, Haz-mat units, etc.

[ray8285]

We have one tactical paramedic and a certified paramedic.

[CACard]

Thanks so much for the advice and info guys. The main reason I was thinking of going LE then Medic was to get the LE experience while earning a living and studying, as a student I'm a little tired of trying to survive off 3 months of income. I'll need to research the requirements associated with Paramedic certification in order to determine whether or not my plans are realisitic. Again thanks for the responses!

[D.o.D cop]

68W Combat medica last time I checked. Never heard of it being referred to as a "trauma specialists" unless you are a PA or a MD in the Army. Usually a combat medic wishing to further their skills gets their EMT or Paramedic.

Are you in a SF reserve unit? Just be cautious if you utilize your "army" training in LE. Make sure your agency will cover you if you utilize what the Army taught you as opposed to CPR, etc from the American Heart Assoc.

CA...larger agencies are using the Tactical Medics, but it's still a new thing for most, since most cities, etc have their own Fire/Ambulance services. However having the training such as a Paramedic, even an EMT can help on SRT/SWAT teams, Haz-mat units, etc.

Thats what my medical Officer calls us, is Truama Specialists, but yes, I am a 68W. As far as it goes in Fl, I am protected under the good samaritan act if I use any of my medical knowledge in a earnest manner to help preserve life. My LT said it's a good thing to have here at the department.

[ElDiabloJoe]

LASD uses tactical paramedics. SEB is the Sheriff's Enforcement Bureau (SWAT), and ESD (a detail within SEB) is the Emergency Services Detail, they are SWAT paramedics.

HTH,

EDJ

[SRT936]

My team has a trauma nurse whose also a certified LEO do our medical. He's a recent addition to our team and is VERY welcome.

[EMS05]

Thanks so much for the advice and info guys. The main reason I was thinking of going LE then Medic was to get the LE experience while earning a living and studying, as a student I'm a little tired of trying to survive off 3 months of income. I'll need to research the requirements associated with Paramedic certification in order to determine whether or not my plans are realisitic. Again thanks for the responses!

CACard, are you already an EMT? If not, you will most likely be required to have an EMT-B certification for a year before being allowed to advance to paramedic training. If you're already an EMT, you can check out this website for tactical medic training opportunities: http://www.emtt.org (I haven't taken any courses at that location, so I can't vouch for the quality)

Just remember that paramedic training is about 1 to 2 years in length and requires a large time commitment (lots of hospital and field hours). In addition, if you do decide on becoming a medic, try to volunteer to gain some hands-on field experience. Similar to policing, no one wants a new medic working on them...

Hope this helps, good luck!

[irishlad2nv]

Thats what my medical Officer calls us, is Truama Specialists, but yes, I am a 68W. As far as it goes in Fl, I am protected under the good samaritan act if I use any of my medical knowledge in a earnest manner to help preserve life. My LT said it's a good thing to have here at the department.

Well hate to bust your "medical officers" balls, but there is no "trauma specialist" as a 68W.

As far as the Good Samaritan Law/Act goes, you are only protected if you are certified in First-aid/CPR by the Red Cross or the American Heart Association. Just to back yourself, make sure your credentials, if any from the Military have those either of those two I mentioned. If anythying, it can be a good thing, since most if not all LE agencies require you to be at least CPR/Firt-aid qualified.