By EMS1 Staff
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Metropolitan EMS will be outfitted with body armor next week after officials authorized the purchase several months ago.
The ballistic vests will be distributed to both EMTs and paramedics, reported THV11.
“We just completed the graduation of the largest EMT class we’ve had. [We] also just graduated the most recent paramedic class,” MEMS Executive Director John Swanson said. “All in response to ensuring we have adequate staff to meet the response times and meet the expectations of the community.”
According to the Daily Dispatch, MEMS purchased 275 vests for $275,000.
Swanson said recent mass shootings spurred the decision to purchase the body armor.
Prior to the decision, the agency’s special tactics and advanced response team were the only ones required to wear body armor.