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In the fall of 1972, an Emergency Unit Program was started by the Kent County Sheriff’s Department, after many months of intensive bargaining, planning, and training.

Prior to the Emergency E-Unit Program, first aid was provided by Sheriff’s deputies trained in basic first aid, and by a group of volunteers who responded to medical incidents. This group was called for first aid around Kent County. During the holidays this unit was stationed at intersections, and would respond to medical situations as they occurred.

The ambulance services there were an operations consisted of only first aid trained personnel, that ran on the theory of driving fast in what used to be called the load and go days.

In seeing a need for upgraded medical care, doctor C. Mark Vasu, and other area Physicians developed a plan for a new system that consisted of putting a difference type of life support units on the streets. After researching they decided to go with Grand Rapids Police Department due to the fact that the police were usually the first on the scene, they were always mobile, police officers were on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. The first police emergency unit program began in 1968 with one E-Unit, then called E-1. This program became very successful and was the inspiration in starting a Kent County Emergency Unit Program.

Planning for the program began in the spring of 1972, when the plan was presented to the Kent County Board of Commissioners. The board members voiced defiant opposition, mainly due to the cost of the program. Mr. Frank Evans who at the time was comptroller for the county projected an annual cost of 350,000 to $400,000.00 a year.

Over the next several weeks the debate continued over the money, the need, and the use of a county operated and funded the emergency unit program. Doctor Vasu and Mr. Robert hill, who was under Sheriff at the time, spent numerous hours trying to educate the commissioners of the need and the great results of program could achieve.

During many meetings the commissioners made many derogatory statements about any such program, stated Mr. Andrew Dekraker, then a county commissioner who sat in at that the finance committee meetings. The commissioners acted like it was one big joke, added Mr. The Dekracker.

Then a breakthrough was made when Dr. Vasu and Mr. John Brewer had business in Florida in the early summer of 1972. On this business trip, both men got together for a friendly came of golf. During their game of golf the two men began to discuss the purpose and need of an Emergency Unit Program. Dr. Vasu was able to persuade Mr. Brewer of what such a program could do and the importance of developing such a program, after a long discussion Dr. Vasu was able to persuade Mr. Brewer’s into backing for the program.

Mr. Brewer was a very influential commissioner and when he returned he was able to consolidate and convince the other commissioners that the program despite the cost was a necessity, and the next vote was unanimous vote for allocating the funding needed for the program.

The Under-Sheriff and Dr. Vasu now with the county backing, began to put the plan into effect for the development of an Emergency Unit Program. The first act was to cross train deputies as paramedics. The department looked for volunteers within the department and received an overwhelming response from the deputies.

The training program was established at the Sheriff’s Department with then Mrs. Candace Otte R.N. as director of the training program. The first round of deputies spent ten weeks in extensive training as well as many more hours and observing in emergency rooms and learning additional emergency skills.

After a ten week program, the first group of deputies past the intense program and became state certified paramedics, next came the task of obtaining the medical equipment necessary to perform their new duties. A vehicle was chosen that would serve as an emergency unit, an old Sheriff’s transfer station wagon was placed back into service, the vehicle was originally used to transfer inmates back and forth from court, and prisoners to the state prison. The station wagon already with 130,000 miles was equipped and stenciled as the first Kent County Emergency Unit.

The emergency medical equipment to be used had been borrowed from local ambulance companies, hospitals, and donations made by several area businesses: Some of the equipment included were, c-collars, an old tool box converted in to a drug box, backboards, oxygen, first aid supplies, defibrillator, heart monitor, and a cardio II, which was nicked named the, "Thumper." (The Cardio II provided mechanical CPR, the Cardio II is still in use today in police vehicles, fire vehicles, and ambulances.) Also a critical piece of equipment was installed, which was called a "telemetry unit" developed by Motorola and served as a communications link between the E-Unit Officer, and the local Hospital Emergency Rooms, serving as medical control.

By fall of 1972, the first two deputies to become the first fully trained paramedics were picked and began to operate the newly formed Emergency Unit. The two deputies worked the emergency unit in shifts. Since this was a new program and with only 1 (one) Emergency Unit, the deputies alternated the hours they worked, and worked peak hours of need: i.e. during morning rush hour traffic, and again during the evening rush hour traffic. The very first County Emergency Unit used was called E-63, and served the entire county of Kent. If the emergency unit was in the south end of the County and a call came in the Northern end of the County the single Emergency Unit would be dispatched and would respond, with a response trip at times of an approximately 25 to 30 mile run.

During the first few months, nurses would ride along with the emergency unit, this served as another form of training, and showed the Nurses the difference between working in a nice clean and organized Emergency Room, verses the brutal scenes with twisted metal and severe injuries, that included working out in the rain,, snow and heat. This mini program also prevented jealousy from developing towards paramedics from nurses who were not allowed to use such advanced skills.

Also developed with the Emergency Unit Program was a team of Doctors who were equipped with lights and sirens in their own personal vehicles and would respond to medical and trauma calls along with the Emergency Units, the doctors were later daubed with the name: "The Crash Squad." These doctors provided Professional help, and gave acute medical assistance in critical situations. The new Emergency Unit Program continued to grow thanks to this wonderful volunteer support they received from these special group of doctors.

The Police Emergency Units, served a dual purpose. When police officers/Paramedics were set up in The Emergency Units then emergency units, these Special Units were not tied up on extensive police investigations so that was it was available for medical and trauma emergencies. Medical and Trauma situations were considered first with the Emergency Units, and traffic was second, when the Emergency Unit was not tied up on medicals, the Emergency Unit worked extra patrols in high accident areas, enforcing speed limits and other traffic violations in these areas. Data collected began showing a decline in serious accidents with the special traffic enforcement. The Emergency Unit also responded to criminal acts in progress, and if an arrest was made they had the capability to transport individuals placed under arrest to the county jail. Due to the overall early success of the E-Unit Program as well as the great public response, the County Board members decided to expand the Emergency Unit Program. In late 1972 then Under Sheriff Robert Hill, wrote and submitted a Federal grant for Federal monies which asked for more than $1,000,000.00 dollars. The Grant was approved and the County received the monies over a three year period.

In September of 1973 3 (three) additional station wagons were purchased new and added to the one that was already in service. At a cost of $16,000.00 per vehicle and an additional $22,000.00 in new medical equipment. In addition to the new medical equipment carried in these new medical units, each vehicle was equipped with a 10lb fire extinguisher, a shovel, sledgehammer, wrecking bar, fire ax, one case of flares, traction rope line, five wool blankets, two additional oxygen tanks, a pair of 35in. bolt cutters and new military anti shock trousers.

In 1974 the Kent County Sheriff’s Department, and the Grand Rapids Police Department soon learned that the station wagons could no longer handle the weight of the newer medical equipment that was continually being added and we’re bottoming out during emergency runs. So in early 1974 both departments switched to Chevy suburban. The new Suburban equipped with 454 police engines and heavy shocks were able to handle the weight of all the medical equipment that was carried. The new vehicles also created greater room for prisoner transport and could go places the station wagons could not . These suburban were the work horse for the emergency units through 1990. Over the next three years, 1973 through 1976 the county’s emergency unit fleet continued to grow, as did the number of calls for medicals and trauma accidents.. By 1976 the departments fleet of emergency units had grown to7 (seven), operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Also the number of certified cross trained police officers and deputies continued to increased.

The county paid that deputies tuition for their paramedic training, in addition the county paid for the deputies/paramedics to meet and exceed state requirements. The deputies were required to attend necessary ongoing education to learn additional skills and learn about the newer and more state of the art equipment that was developed and added to there units. Once a deputy completed the paramedic programming and passed the state exam for paramedic certification they were given a patch that was placed on their uniforms sleeves identifying them as emergency unit personnel. As the Emergency Unit Program continued to expand there was a lot of competition between the newly formed private sector paramedics who worked for private ambulance companies. Some of the most noted issues consisted of a ambulances racing to scene's trying to beat Police Emergency Units; and at scene's some times arguments broke out over disagreement as to the type of treatment than needed to be rendered.

This did not remain a problem for very long, since the emergency unit, and private ambulance paramedics realize that they were attempting the same results, which was to give the patients the best medical care possible, and that was achieved by working together. Since the development of the Police Emergency Unit Program in 1968 by the Grand Rapids Police Department and then expanded in 1972 with the addition of the Kent County Sheriff’s Department. Also the private sector ambulances began upgrading to paramedics and advanced life support level. As time went on the survival rate of individuals of automobile accidents and heart attack's greatly increased and was credited to the quick response and medical knowledge of the Police Emergency Units and the upgraded ambulance services.

As of 1982 Kent County was approximately 360 to 400 square miles wide with a population then of 444,000, the county private paramedic ambulance services increased in numbers as well to 5 (five) ALS Services Serving the County. In 1982 Mercy Ambulance Service was the largest service in Kent and Ottawa County and as the years whet by, Mercy continued to lead the private ambulance sector and eventually became Nationally known. By 1982, the paramedic program and Police Emergency Units grew in other communities in the County: The Kent County Sheriff department was equipped with 7 (seven) emergency units and approximately 40 paramedics. The Grand Rapids Police department had 4 (four) emergency units and approximately 35 paramedics. The city of Kentwood Police department had 1 (one) emergency unit and 8 (eight) paramedics. The city of Wyoming Police department had 2 (two) emergency units and approximately 17 (seventeen) paramedics. In the city of East Grand Rapids there Fire Department was equipped with 1 (one) emergency unit and approximately 6 (six) paramedics.

In 1982, Kent County now had 5 (five) Paramedic Ambulance Services all private companies, they consisted of the following: Mercy Ambulance, Life EMS, Buds, and two rural services Rockford Ambulance and Sparta Ambulance. The paramedic students in 1982, were required to attend over 640 hours of classroom and hospital instruction in order to qualify as a paramedic candidate and then were required to take a State written and Practical exams were administered by the then Michigan Department of Public Health. After the Candidate passed the exam the candidate became a State Certified Paramedic. In the state of Michigan paramedics must recertify every 3 (three) years this is accomplished by attending continuing education classes that provided credits necessary to recertify as a Paramedic.

The cost of the Police Emergency Unit Program in 1982 continued to increased and the cost was close to $1,000.000.00 annually in addition the Suburban were replaced every six months. The cost for seven new units in 1982, was approximately $77,000.00. The replacement value for all the equipment for one emergency unit was averaged at $40,000.00 alone. Every year the emergency units were inspected by the State of Michigan's Department of Public Health and every Friday emergency Unit was inventoried to make sure all supplies and equipment were in proper working form. The men and women who operated the emergency units were personnel who really believe in what they’re doing. They were a special group who responded to automobile accidents, heart attacks, and they also had to make life and death decisions in seconds as to what type of treatment needed be rendered to stabilize the patient. They dealt with death of the old and of the young little girl or little boy who may have stepped in front of a moving car in high speed zones, who one moment is conscious and talking and the next moment has died as the result of severe internal injuries. The emergency unit personnel were the ones usually sent to tell a parent that there child was dead or critically injured. They are the officers who must tell a husband or wife that their spouse suffered a massive heart attack and died instantly. All Emergency Unit officer's dealt with life threatening situations every day, in addition to the dangerous work as there primary role as a police officer.

An emergency unit officer and a private service ambulance paramedic work in all kinds of environments. Then in late1982, the future of the Emergency Unit Program began to look bleak for several reasons:

1,) At the onset of the program Federal funds were available from the Federal Government, but due to Government’s cut back and the economy the funds were no longer available.

2,) Increased cost of tuition and increased time to complete the program. As of January, 1982, it cost $61.00 a credit hour, the student must work through 20 (twenty) weeks of basic training, 10 (ten) weeks of E.M.T. Specialist training, 10 (ten) weeks of cardiology, and finally an additional 20 (twenty) weeks of training, at the Paramedic level.

3,) The rapidly increasing costs of medical equipment, training, and the reduced number of cross trained police and deputies placed the program in jeopardy of extinction.

4.) The most serious problem was Paramedic Burnout. As an emergency unit officer working in specialized vehicles, the decrease number of certified Paramedics resulted in no rotation from the specially equipped E-Units to patrol vehicles. There was not much opportunity for advancement to the level of detective or Sergeants, by promoting an E-Unit Officer would continue to decrease the already lowering number of cross trained police officers.

In 1989 the Emergency Unit Program was dropped by the city of Grand Rapids as well as the other emergency unit programs in the local cities. Politicians locally chose to turn to the cheaper avenue of training firefighters to the level of Medical First Responders, leaving the advanced skills to the private paramedic services. The Kent County Sheriff’s Department as of 2002 still operated an Emergency Unit Program, but no longer are the officers trained as Paramedics, nor do they possess the equipment they once held. Today’s units sadly are a window dressed cruiser with the word Emergency Unit placard on several cruisers.

Since 1990 all Local and Township Fire Departments now provide Medical First Responders, a pretty definition for a Basic First Aid Provider, although a decent system, and some enthusiastic personnel participate in the new Fire/EMS Program. The Police Emergency Unit Program that was once a National Model, has been buried by City and County Political Officials who chose to save dollars rather than lives. Written by: Dave D.)