INCOMPETENCE: Hamilton Ambulance Service Suspended

September 25, 2008 by Administrator

The Hamilton Police Department was forced to shut down its ambulance service after a state investigation found serious deficiencies in the training and qualifications of the officers.

The investigation was conducted by the Office of Emergency Medical Services which started probing the town in August. According to the Salem News,

All Hamilton police officers are required to be state-certified as emergency medical technicians. The deficient records raise questions about whether the officers got paid for training they never took and, more importantly, had proper training to respond to medical calls.

All full-time officers in the department reportedly get extra pay for being EMT-certified.

A private ambulance firm will be providing ambulance service for the town while the matter gets straightened out.