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I have worked as a paramedic in the rural environment similar to Cooke County for 14 years. I have been hazardous situation’s a few times although rare, having to go hands on with a patient or family member when law enforcement is 20+ minutes away. Even worse when you get into an area with poor or no radio coverage and can’t call for help. I have been shot at and stabbed once in the past 14 years of service both after calling for help and within 10 minutes of LE arrival. I would hate to ever resort to that degree of force against another person (patient or family member) but when it comes down to who gets to go home that day, I would prefer it be me.

This is a very near and dear subject for me. That I know of there is no law that prevents paramedics from carrying concealed except for department policy. Where it gets troubling is nursing homes, hospitals and other places that are legally / properly 30.06 posted. I carried concealed for years while on duty after being stabbed (CONCEALED MEANS CONCEALED). My Local LE Chief knew and supported carrying while on duty and even helped check the policy and state laws. At one time he offered to all of the medics that were CHL and carried some additional hands on and weapon training through the PD. The department policy was changed as the newly appointed director was not a fan of concealed carry while on duty.

(OFF TOPIC)
He went as far as posting 30.06 signs on the station doors (improper posting and not the topic of this thread) and tried to enforce a ruling that no firearms of any type were allowed in or on the property. Funny how half of the department parked across the street off property just to prove a point.

(BACK ON TOPIC)
I agree with Mr. Zavadsky with MedStar partially. It should partially be up to the department to permit the medics to carry, but the state needs to give some guidance and assistance in reducing the liability to the department in the event that deadly force is used. It is no less dangerous in Fort Worth with LE assistance minutes away than it is Rural. I think that if the state does pass legislation on this that there needs to be some recourse on the department if a medic is injured or killed because the department denied them from protecting themselves. The other concern is introduction of a weapon into the hazardous environment that can be sued against the medic. I also agree with Mr. Zavadsky that the 10 hour CHL course is not enough training and that some advanced conflict resolution and defensive tactics from least lethal hands on to use of deadly force training should be required.

If I remember correctly Mr. Grant Cooke County Emergency Medical Services Director was appointed as the director few years ago and came from Southern California. It’s nice to know that there is still a few Californian’s with some common sense that truly cares about the safety of their staff and is willing to put their neck on the line like this.