New partnership between Sudbury police and paramedics will help keep first responders safe
After years of planning and training, a new Tactical Emergency Medics program will see nine paramedics joining the Greater Sudbury Police Service on the front lines.
"Our emergency response unit participates or activates whenever fairly serious or potentially serious events could happen," said Shawn-Eric Poulin, the team lead for the tactical paramedic team. "That being said, we’re talking about knives, guns, possibly explosives, those types of things. So knowing that we can be there immediately and start providing care immediately gives us a solace because we have the skills and I know it makes the ERU members feel more comfortable as well."
The team will be deployed alongside the police department’s Emergency Response Unit for high-risk situations.
"There’s an array of different things that, obviously, we’re deployed to, be it anything high-risk," said emergency response Staff Sgt. Ed Stiller. "Barricade, weapons, etc. So that being said, if we're deployed, they’re deployed with us."
On Wednesday, police officers alongside the new tactical team demonstrated a scenario on how this partnership would look during a real event in the city. Officials said it is a crucial partnership that is needed.
"Seconds count and having the appropriately trained personnel working directly with us, side by side, shoulder to shoulder, being available for immediate care makes an absolute difference," Stiller said.
The idea of this partnership first came up in 2019 and included an application from interested paramedics, physical training, and psychological training for medics ready to join the front line. However, Poulin said his team is ready.
"Every team member can now provide that care immediately if it ever was to come to that. Some of these guys have been dreaming about this since they were in school to become paramedics," he said.
Adding that by being beside officers during a situation, they can care for injuries in a quicker manner than if their vehicles were waiting further away.
"At present, we have what’s required and that being said, those numbers are based on availability from paramedic services," explained Stiller. "They determined what they were able to offer. It also has a lot to do with what we have available for equipment. So at present, we have nine -- we would like more. Nine is a very good working number for us and we’d like to keep it at that."
Now with training complete and everyone equipped with the necessary gear, both police and paramedics say it's another tool to keep first responders safe in the city.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.