Exclusive Look At TPD Special Operations Team Training

There are several reasons an ambulance may not be able to get to the scene of a violent crime. Whether it’s road closures, congested traffic, or the scene may be too dangerous for EMS personnel. While a scene has an on-going threat, ambulances stage outside of the area until the threat no longer exists.

The delay in providing medical attention could mean lives are lost. Police officers realized the need to be able to help faster and have the knowledge to treat those in need.

In 2014, the Tulsa Police Department began training police officers as EMTs. This allows for a higher level of care to be provided during police responses.

Tulsa Police Officer, Con Ericsson said the faster they can get to a victim and begin rendering care, the better chance that person survives.

"There's a lot of times where they'll get a call that there’s a possibility of violence or that someone’s armed or somebody that has mental health issues; they'll call for police officers to come and help make the scene safe so they can go in there and do their job,” Ericsson said.

Officer Ericsson is one of about 40 TPD officers who are cross trained as an EMT. On July 3, 2018, he heard Sergeant Mike Parsons call for help on his radio.

A suspect shot Parsons in the leg while he was trying to help with the arrest. Sergeant Parsons fired pepper balls at the suspect before the suspect started shooting back. Parsons fell to the ground and used his radio to call for help.

“If you’re calling for me specifically, I know that something has gone very wrong. And if I recognize that voice, I know I need to get there immediately,” Ericsson said.

Sergeant Mike Parsons survived, but officers have been killed in similar situations.

In Oklahoma City, first responders tried to save Oklahoma County Deputy Sergeant, Bobby Swartz, who was shot while serving an eviction notice earlier this year. Sergeant Swartz didn’t survive.

Tulsa Police Officer Tony First said training like this could save lives.

"The team is actually a smaller component of our overall Special Operations Team. The TPD Special Operations Team consists of our entry, our crisis negotiations, our precision rifle operators, and our medics. Which is the group that I'm part of. Technically speaking, we are the Tactical Rescue and EMS Unit,” First said.

The Tactical Rescue and Emergency Medical Services (TREMS) Unit is made up of Special Operations Team members who, like Officer Ericsson, are medially trained.

When they are activated, it means something serious is happening.

"Stress goes up a little bit. You want to do better. You want to push harder. You want to somehow be more excellent if that were a thing, but you have to do the exact same thing on every call. You go through your breathing that we are taught in our academy, slow yourself down, and be the provider, be the tactical operator that you’re supposed to be to the best of your ability and not let emotion creep in anywhere,” First said.

The Special Operation's Team has its own Trauma Surgeon and a Physician's Assistant who both volunteer to train with the team and help at scenes.

Other agencies in Oklahoma are already asking for help from this medically trained unit.