Council approves tactical emergency medical support agreement with Jersey Shore EMS

Lock Haven City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025‑24, establishing a one‑year emergency services agreement with Jersey Shore area medical services to provide tactical emergency medical support for high‑risk policing incidents.

City staff described the agreement as different from traditional EMS mutual‑aid: the Jersey Shore team would be trained to provide enhanced medical care inside high‑risk, ‘hot‑zone’ incidents where ordinary EMS or firefighters might not safely operate. The term discussed in council materials begins Sept. 1 and runs through Aug. 31, 2026.

Council members asked how the team would integrate with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) command structure and whether Jersey Shore EMS would assume command of a section of an incident. Police staff said the city’s police department would request the tactical EMS team as needed; the police would determine whether to call and the tactical EMS unit would provide medical support within the law enforcement response. The police chief said the arrangement was intended for rare, high‑risk situations; staff estimated the city had experienced perhaps two incidents in the last 10 years where such support might have been helpful.

Questions about the team’s staffing levels and total member count were not answered at the meeting; staff said they did not have that information available during the discussion. Council approved the resolution on a recorded voice vote.

Council described the agreement as a trial for one year so the city can assess whether the arrangement functions within incident command and operational expectations.