Reynoldsburg, Truro Township enter into EMT-SWAT agreement

(by Rachel Scofield, Staff Writer - July 29, 2009)

Reynoldsburg SWAT has been dispatched on nearly 25 missions in 2009. 

However, not all raids occurred within Reynoldsburg, Reynoldsburg Brad McCloud says.

Every time the Reynoldsburg SWAT team stormed through a suspect's door, specially trained medics from Truro Township readied themselves for potential injuries.

The Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) waited in an ambulance several blocks from the scene in case the police called for help. Without riot gear, they could not station themselves any closer without risking their own lives.

The price of nine sets of SWAT armor for the EMTs was more than the city or the township were able to pay, McCloud said.

The Reynoldsburg Eagles learned of the issue, and through the organization's Big Walnut Charities program, granted the fire department $5,000 for the purchase of the suits, Truro Fire Chief Jerry Foltz said.

Once the township cleared everything with its liability insurance, Truro recently entered into an agreement with Reynoldsburg for the armored EMTs to ride with the police in the SWAT van, Foltz said.

The medics would not join the entry team, but otherwise they would be as "close as you can get to provide innocent bystanders and even bad guys with medical attention right away," Foltz said.

Reynoldsburg Councilman Fred Deskins said he hopes the suits are not needed, but if they are, "It is a win-win for everybody."

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