Download this week’s episode on iTunes, SoundCloud or via RSS feed
In this week’s Inside EMS Podcast, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss a grand jury decision to not indict a white New York City police officer in the videotaped chokehold death of an unarmed black man.
Two paramedics involved in the incident were initially suspended, but later cleared of any wrongdoing and reinstated. The case sparked outrage and drew comparisons to the deadly police shooting in Ferguson, Mo.
“I’ve got to tell you, now having gone through this Ferguson thing … it’s these types of things that are happening that really kind of raise the eyebrow to say are we being fair across the board?” Cebollero said. “And it doesn’t seem that the grand jury is taking a lot of salt into holding people accountable for things that could be criminal.”
Grayson disagreed, saying the grand jury based the decision on testimony and forensic evidence as opposed to biased media coverage.
Cebollero said it comes down to setting standards, and someone who was not a police officer would have gone to trial, but Grayson said he hesitates to say justice wasn’t served, and he places his faith in the legal system.
“It balances out, in my opinion,” he said.
They also sat down with longtime EMS1 columnist and supporter Greg Friese, who has joined the company as the new EMS1 Editor-in-Chief.
Friese said he’s looking forward to adding new voices to the EMS1 mix, and encouraged potential contributors to explore the site, and to reach out with examples of articles that pertain to an uncovered niche on the site that they’re passionate about.
He also commented on the future of EMS, saying the industry needs to consider both the challenges of a younger population working for baby boomers, and how the difficulties of an aging workforce are changing how EMS structures its organizations.
Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned on the show:
