Tactical Emergency Medical Services Team (TEMS)

We provides medical support for the Merced Police Department and the Merced County Sheriffs Department in the form of paramedics and necessary on-scene medical equipment.

Recognizing the dangerous conditions and the odds for injury during a tactical police deployment, Riggs provides certified tactical paramedics to the Merced Police Department and Merced County Sheriff's Special Weapons and Tac tics (SWAT teams). The Riggs Special Operations SWAT Medics are a team of four paramedics, selected by the law enforcement agencies, to serve as paramedics that respond to situations with their SWAT teams. These paramedics train with the SWAT teams and therefore must meet all physical agility and marksmanship requirements. The departments provide tactical training and safety equipment to assigned paramedics such as ballistic vests and other necessary equipment.

The paramedics involved in the program are all full-time employees of Riggs that have been selected by MPD/MCSO officials. Participation in the program is voluntary and the paramedic remains an employee of Riggs.

MPD/MCSO selects and incorporates the paramedics as full team members, notifying the medics through Riggs dispatch of all SWAT call-outs.  MPD/MCSO requires that the paramedics continuously train with the teams and maintain active practice and training in the paramedic profession.

Goals of Tactical Medical Support Activity.

Implementation of an effective tactical medical support program is directed at achieving these important goals:

• Provide medical support and care for S.W.A.T. team members, civilian victims, bystanders and perpetrators during active call-outs and training,
• Provide a medical perspective and consiltation to commanders to increase effective decision making,
• Obtain and document  and over see the health and well being of the tactical  team members during training and call-outs,
• Provide patient advocacy for team members during swat related hospitalization and medical transports,
• Act as a safety officer during call-outs and training,
• Provide evaluation and proper documentation of all perpetrators and victims of swat call-out to insure access to timely medical evaluation and reduce liabilities

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