Grant to fund tactical EMS program

Sheriff’s offices in seven different counties around southeast Idaho could be implementing a program they’ve never done before.

On Tuesday, the Portneuf Health Care Foundation donated $76,000 grant to the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office to fund a tactical emergency medical services program.

This will now allow the sheriff’s office to help train EMS personnel to quickly respond to high-intensity police situations.

Both Bannock and Power county sheriffs said this money will help allow anyone who might be injured to get immediate medical attention.

“Just the cooperation we have working together — I think it’s something to be envied by most of the other agencies,” said Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Nielsen.

“It means more than I could say to you today with the short bit of time I have simply because on our own we don’t have the resources to do what we are doing together,” said Power County Sheriff Jim Jeffries.

The money will help buy new medical equipment used in the military, tactical gear and possibly a new transport vehicle.