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Firefighters and residents raise alarms about Medic 15 deployment, staffing and equipment
Summary
Union leaders and residents urged city officials to address staffing, deployment and equipment issues after the introduction of Medic 15; firefighters said the unit’s operation changed on day one, that single‑person additions are insufficient, and that the vehicle and staffing model risk emergency response and employee morale.
Firefighters and union leaders told Troy City Council on May 19 they are concerned about the city’s new Medic 15 deployment and broader staffing and apparatus issues that they say affect response times and safety.
Union statement and firefighter concerns: Thomas Reed, president of Troy Firefighters Local 1638, summarized written guidance he said was provided to the department about Medic 15 and said the unit’s operation diverged from that guidance once it went into service. Reed said Medic 15 was described as an additional resource to respond to lower‑priority calls with the platoon commander determining response; in practice, he told council, Medic 11 was being sidelined and higher priority calls were being covered by distant stations, lengthening response times.
“Adding one person to a shift will not fix this,” Reed said. “Medic 15 can’t run the way it’s intended with just one additional person. We need a realistic plan with the right number of people to make it safe, sustainable and effective for both the public and our personnel.” Reed said the approach has forced staffing and scheduling changes that have eroded morale and led to overtime compulsion on short notice.
Equipment and safety concerns: Resident and longtime public‑safety volunteer Steve Smith told council he believes the vehicle in use is “not designed for patient care” and described it primarily as a transport vehicle that does not support clinical care in flight; he argued the city should consider taking that unit out of service until safety issues are resolved. Smith said staffing and shifting policies have changed frequently and that the changes undermine consistency and safety.
Council response and next steps: The public comments were offered during the meeting’s public‑comment period. Council did not take action at the meeting. Union and resident speakers urged council to engage with fire and emergency medical staff and review deployment, staffing levels and apparatus suitability; the union asked the city to develop a staffing plan rather than temporary or ad hoc fixes.
Background: Speakers said changes to staffing and deployment have contributed to recent resignations and hiring challenges. Reed said the union wants meaningful, sustainable staffing and operations changes rather than short‑term measures.
Provenance: Testimony and union statements appear in the later public‑comment portion of the May 19 meeting.
