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Deputy Paramedics-S.R.T. Team

04/29/2016

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PRESS RELEASE

 

Knox County Sheriff's Department
Emergency Medical Services
Deputy Paramedics-S.R.T. Team

 

The Knox County Sheriff's Department is proudly announcing its status as a State of Illinois Department of Public Health Licensed Advanced Life Support-[non Transport] Emergency Medical Services Agency.

The Knox County Sheriff's Department is the only law enforcement agency in the State of Illinois that holds a state license at the Paramedic level with its own sworn deputies that can provide Advanced Emergency Medical Care and Rescue Services.

The Knox County Sheriff's Department Deputy-Paramedics operate under the medical direction of Dr. Christopher Herman M.D. and Galesburg Cottage Hospital EMS System in Illinois EMS Region 2.

There are currently 6 deputy-paramedics on the S.R.T. roster, and all have at least 5 years of high-volume emergency medical services experience.  Their intensive training has included both Tactical Law Enforcement & Technical Rescue Response.  This EMS unit has taken 2 years to plan, train, and implement.

When available this status upgrade will allow a deputy-paramedic in a response vehicle to provide citizens throughout Knox County with first response Advanced Life Support patient care prior to ambulance arrival.

This status upgrade will allow deputy-paramedics riding as partners with patrol deputies the ability to provide Advanced Life Support patient care.

This status upgrade will also allow the KCSD S.R.T. team to respond together as a Paramedic unit when activated for any type of rescue service request.

The Knox County Sheriff's Department and Galesburg Hospital's Ambulance Service has formed a win-win cooperative agreement to support the KCSD Emergency Medical Services.  This division adds a new dynamic to the Knox County Sheriff's Department.  It is a new concept in the region with benefits to both the sheriff's department and to the citizens of Knox County.  This gives us an advantage of being on the cutting edge of Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical Services, and Rescue Response.