LOCK HAVEN — Lock Haven City Council approved an agreement between its police department and Jersey Shore EMS to provide tactical emergency medical support in the event it is needed.

City Manager Gregory Wilson told council Monday night the agreement — which lasts one year — was recommended by the police department.

He said LHPD Chief Matthew Rickard provided a variety of reasons this service could be beneficial compared to its usual partnerships with other local EMS providers.

According to information provided by Rickard to Wilson the following were key reasons it was recommended the city enter into an agreement with JS EMS for these services:

— Immediate and enhanced medical care at high-risk incidents: TEMS personnel, often paramedics, nurses or physicians with specialized training, can provide immediate or near-immediate medical and trauma care during high-risk law enforcement operations like active shooter events, high-risk warrant services or hostage situations.

— Access to hot zones: Traditional EMS or firefighters might be unable to respond safely inside an active or “hot zones” during a tactical operation. TEMS members are specifically trained and equipped to operate in these environments alongside law enforcement, ensuring faster medical access and potentially saving lives.

— Improved officer safety and psychological support: The presence of TEMS providers offers significant benefits to officer safety and morale. Officers are more likely to perform effectively knowing that highly trained medical personnel can care for them immediately if injured.

— Reduced casualties (officers, civilians, suspects): By providing rapid medical care and trauma treatment in high-risk scenarios, TEMS units can significantly reduce the impact of injuries and improve long-term patient outcomes for officers, civilians and suspects alike.

— Pre-planning and preventative care: TEMS goes beyond simply reacting to injuries. TEMS providers can assist commanders with developing pre-deployment medical risk assessments, implementing risk reduction strategies and coordinating with other medical services.

— Liaison to EMS and healthcare services: TEMS providers act as a crucial link between law enforcement operations and local emergency medical services, streamlining communication and ensuring smoother transitions for patient care and transport.

— Training and education: TEMS providers can also train agency personnel in life-saving medical techniques like chest tube placement, cricothyrotomy, needle decompression and rapid sequence intubation. This broadens the medical capabilities of the entire department.

— Adaptability to austere environments: TEMS providers are trained to function effectively and safely deliver high-quality emergency medical care in austere or unconventional environments where traditional medical facilities or resources might be limited.

— Meeting industry standards: The National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) recognizes TEMS as a standard of care for law enforcement special operations, indicating a growing industry expectation for its integration.

“In essence, integrating TEMS into a police department elevates the level of medical support available during high-risk operations, enhances officers safety and well-being, improves outcomes for all involved and ensures a more comprehensive and proactive approach to managing medical emergencies in a tactical environment,” Rickard wrote.

Wilson told council on Monday night that Jersey Shore EMS’s staff are trained for tactical response and added there would be no cost associated with the agreement.

Council member Jeff Brinker asked how the service would work.

“Our police, with this agreement, would be able to tap into having the Jersey Shore team come and assist if there was a medical emergency as part of their response that was a high risk one,” he said.

Wilson noted the hope is to never truly need to utilize the service.

“To be honest, it’s the kind of thing we’d hope we’d never use,” he said. “I would say in maybe 10 years we’ve had maybe two incidents where it may have been helpful.”

Council Member Steve Stevenson noted the city would continue to utilize its partnerships with local EMS services such as Lock Haven and Flemington even with the agreement.

“We can try for a year and assess it to see how it works,” he said.

Council unanimously approved the agreement — which runs from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31, 2026 — following a motion by Council Member Rick Conklin which was seconded by Council Member Tami Brannan.