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Emergency Medical Technicians With Advanced Training To Respond With Shelby County Sheriff’s SWAT Team During High-Risk and Hostage Events

Release Date: June 9, 2004

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has added Emergency Medical Technicians who can administer IVs to the SWAT Team. The Shelby County Fire Department EMTs will respond with officers to hostage calls and other incidents requiring the SWAT Team.

“This is a ‘best practice’ adopted by other law enforcement agencies across the country. We feel adding an EMT with advanced life support training to the SWAT team is vital for the safety of our officers and those they are called upon to help,” said Shelby County Sheriff Mark H. Luttrell, Jr.

Right now, an ambulance is dispatched each time the SWAT Team is needed. However, the ambulance personnel, who may not have special training, are often in a secured area sometimes blocks away from the incident. Now, the specially trained EMTs will always be at the scene with the officers.

The new SWAT Team EMTs currently serve on the Shelby County Fire Department’s Special Operations Unit. They already have advanced training in tactical life-saving techniques. However, they will receive 160 hours of SWAT training so they will be able to understand the movements and tactics of the SWAT officers. The special training for the EMTs will conclude at the end of June.

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