By James DeHaven
Las Vegas Review-Journal
LAS VEGAS — At least two victims of violent crimes might be alive today if not for policies adopted by the city of Las Vegas and its Fire Department, according to lawsuits filed this week in U.S. District Court.
The suits, drafted by attorney and former City Councilman Matthew Callister, allege a new city-approved ambulance dispatch policy needlessly delayed medical responses and contributed to the wrongful deaths of John Kraai and Brandon Pickford, who died from wounds sustained in separate attacks early last year.
They suggest the city prioritized ambulance transport revenues above public safety, chiding officials for their “deliberate indifference" toward warnings the Fire Department might not be able to handle a long-planned 15 percent increase in emergency responses officially taken on in March.
Read Full Story: Lawsuit blames Vegas ambulance switch in 2 deaths