ERLANGER, Ky. — The city of Erlanger is training police officers as certified EMTs to boost response capabilities and retention.
Three officers are currently enrolled in a four-month EMT program at Gateway Community & Technical College, WCPO reported.
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The cross-training initiative, launched after city leaders explored new retention strategies in January, has already shown results. Veteran Officer Megan Ryle, one of the officers in the program, arrived ahead of an ambulance on a recent cardiac arrest call and helped save a life, according to WCPO.
“I got dispatched with another officer at the same time as the ambulance. The ambulance was doing something else. They were a little farther away,” Ryle said. “I got to the scene at the same time as one of the fire chiefs, and we started the same thing. He started doing the bagging, and I started compressions right away. In a cardiac arrest, that can make a big difference.”
Erlanger Fire & EMS handles about 3,300 EMS runs a year, roughly 85% of its 4,500 total calls. Chief Randy Godsey told WCPO he has seen police–fire cross-training at Louisville’s airport but not in a city department, and while it was unfamiliar at first, he believes the model can work.
Cross-training gives Erlanger an edge. With some fire/EMS response times reaching six minutes to the city’s far edges, EMT-trained police officers on patrol can arrive sooner and begin care. When paramedics arrive, officers hand off with a detailed report, keeping the response several steps ahead.
“If officers are out on patrol, they’ll be able to get there sooner, and having EMT training, they’ll be able to get patient history, see what’s going on with the patient, so that when our paramedics do get on scene, they can pass that information along, and we can be steps ahead of whatever the emergency is,” Police Chief Kyle Rader said.
Godsey said the program strengthens collaboration between departments while improving overall emergency response.
“I think it’s creating a better bond between the two departments, and really helps that umbrella of public safety that we’re trying to get started,” Godsey said.
What’s your take — is this a smart evolution in public safety or a short-term fix for staffing challenges?
EMS1 readers respond
“Cross-trained police officers are not the answer. You are robbing Peter to pay Paul. You can literally strip police services of their EMS response responsibilities.”
“Bad idea to mix police with EMS there are a lost of reasons why first HIPAA, secondly public would not trust EMS in fear of incriminating themselves, thirdly EMS safety is paramount because we don’t have guns or body armor.”
“I started that program in my department in Arizona a decade ago and it definitely saved lives. We were rural with ALS about 10 miles away. It may not be for all departments, but for many in rural areas it can be the difference between life and death.”
“I missed the part where it says they get more money for more responsibility?”
“Great idea that should have been the standard many years ago. Every minute counts, and this leads to much better positive community interactions.”
