Midterm Service Learning Blog

For this semester, I have been fortunate to have a new and exciting service learning experience. I am working with the Lake Charles Police Departments Special Response Team (SRT). This is equivalent to what other areas refer to as SWAT or SOG teams. The team is designed to enter into special operation missions to provide protection or apprehend criminals. They are trained in special weapon systems and tactics for situations including: hostage rescue, serving high risk warrants, entering active shooter situations, crowd control, long range pursuit and apprehension, and even effective use of K-9 officers. My role in this group is as a medic or medical provider. I am trained and continue to train in weapons use and active shooter situations.  This is an important aspect of training as I may be required to enter into high-risk situations to aid a down civilian, officer, or suspect. I have also attended tactical medic courses to better understand the medical needs that are specific to this type of situation.

This group or team is underserved as they do not have direct medical participation or support in the many dangerous environments that the serve in. As a volunteer and commissioned officer, I can and do provide close medical support during missions as well as first aide services in training situations. I have learned the dangers that this underpaid group face in their daily task and have been active in developing more intensive and safe training guidelines to provide the officers with an improved “baseline” fitness that provides for better reactions during high stress missions. At a recent statewide SWAT meeting, the Lake Charles Police Department was one of 6 teams recognized as having active medical support during active missions and even fewer had medical support during training. I am proud to say they placed first in the physical fitness and shooting competition that was a grueling 3 hours course. They place 1^st in 4 categories and top 5 in 2 others, thanks to the fitness regiment that has been implemented.

The strength’s that I bring to this team is my medical background and soon, a DNP. This allows me to not only provide excellent medical support but to recognize problems in training and active missions and help to develop solutions to these situations. I also serve the entire community as I help to protect and serve those who are protecting and serving. A weakness is that because this is not my first job or primary employment, I cannot guarantee that I can be available 100% of the time, but thus far, it has been about 90% of the time and 100% on training days. I am able to use personal time from work to take off to help the SRT. I believe that my involvement with the team will continue in the future and my role and responsibilities will continue to grow. I have been contacted by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office EMS director and asked to train with their team as well. This is an honor but a commitment to two teams may not be possible…at least until after May!