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Evansville approves expanded EMS staffing plan for Fire Department, transfers radios to police
Summary
The board approved adding an EMS division to the Fire Department table of organization ahead of a planned July 2026 start for municipal ambulance service; the board also approved transfer of radios to the police department and surplus of older equipment.
The City of Evansville Board of Public Safety approved changes to the Fire Department's table of organization that create a new EMS branch and add staff ahead of a planned municipal ambulance service, and approved intra-departmental transfers and surpluses of radio equipment.
Fire Chief Knight told the board the city will begin an EMS ambulance service on July 1, 2026, and the mayor approved the organizational changes on June 23. The Board of Public Safety, the sack committee, and the controller also signed off in late June and early July, Chief Knight said. The requested additions to the table of organization include a chief of EMS, three EMS supervisors, 22 paramedics, 22 EMTs and one public information manager.
"We're going to begin that service on 07/01/2026," Knight said. He said salaries and costs were already approved and some positions (EMS supervisors and public information manager) have been posted; paramedic postings will occur in early 2026.
At the same meeting, Deputy Chief Kim Garrett asked the board to approve transferring about nine radios from the Fire Department to the Evansville Police Department; the board approved the transfer by voice vote. The board also approved surplusing a dive-communications line and 41 radio microphones that were beyond economical repair.
Board members said they asked questions to understand why equipment was being transferred or surplused and to ensure proper documentation. "When we have questions for those sitting here, we think it's important that we understand what why we're spending something, what we're getting rid of and why," a board member said during the discussion.
The motion to approve the updated table of organization passed on motion and second with unanimous "ayes." The radio-transfer, surplus and related motions also were approved.
Why it matters: creating an in-house EMS service will expand the Fire Department's responsibilities and staffing; approved transfers and surpluses reassign usable equipment and clear outdated inventory ahead of the service launch.
What's next: Job postings for paramedics will be issued early next year; staff will follow through on the radio transfers and surplus processes.
