Paramedics will now join Lethbridge police officers at high-risk incidents

The Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) initiative will see seven advanced-care paramedics with specialized training and equipment embedded in the Lethbridge Police Service's tactical team. (LPS handout)

Paramedics will now be accompanying members of the Lethbridge Police Service’s (LPS) tactical team when they respond to high-risk situations.

The move is part of a new initiative called Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS), a partnership between Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services and LPS.

It will see seven advanced-care paramedics with specialized training and equipment embedded with the unit in order to provide immediate medical care to injured officers or civilians.

Officials say they’ll be used at hostage-takings or “active assailant scenarios.”

Previously, paramedics would be set up blocks away from high-risk incidents, resulting in delayed response times.

“We have seen an increase in tactical team deployments over the past few years, and an increase in high-risk incidents involving weapons and violence,” said Police Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh.

“As a result, we have a responsibility to address the increased risk of harm to members of the public and our first responders.”

The TEMS concept originated at the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in 1971 and has since expanded to agencies throughout North America.

The idea of bringing it to Lethbridge came from Sgt. Denton Michelson, who oversees the LPS critical incident unit, and firefighter Peter Griffiths.

“Our goal is to provide the community the best care possible, no matter the situation,” said Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services Chief Greg Adair.

“With the TEMS team ready to go, we’re enhancing our ability to respond to patients in critical incidents where every second could mean the difference between life and death.”