During the 2014 ILEETA Conference, Police1 Contributor Joseph “Little Joe” Ferrera — a Sergeant with the Southfield (Mich.) Police Department —debriefed a gunfight that took place in that agency’s lobby. Accompanied by co-presenter Sergeant Gary Lask — who ended the threat presented by the man armed with a pistol at the front desk — Ferrera discussed a variety of lessons learned.
Among them was an action taken by one of the agency’s dispatchers, and it merits our attention.
During the brief gunfight, Sergeant Matt Collins was wounded in the shoulder. Officer Nick Cazan — a SWAT Operator with the department — administers initial first aid, and as EMS is en route, the decision is made to “load and go” to the trauma center in a squad car.
At that moment, Dispatch Supervisor Pete — who also answers to the nickname “Taz” — began to strategically deploy squad cars at busy intersections between the PD and the hospital. Officers were able to stop cross traffic at about three or four such intersections, allowing for a safer, faster route for that emergency transport.
“He did that all on his own, with nobody telling him to do so,” Ferrera explained.
This is a tactic that can be preplanned for certain types of events in your jurisdiction. For example, a known route can be mapped (and likely is) between the schools in your AOR and the nearest trauma centers. Dispatch can coordinate squads to particularly onerous intersections for traffic control when EMS or other emergency vehicles are carrying injured victims. A ‘Plan B’ route would also be a very good addition to this type of preparation.
Consider having a discussion with the dispatch group you work with. Identify routes you’re likely to use for safer, faster transport of critically injured persons, and develop a plan that officers and dispatchers know in advance my help save lives.
