When Seconds Matter…
When a medical emergency occurs, seconds can mean the difference between life and death. For New Orleans Police Department officers responding to violent, unpredictable, or otherwise unsafe scenes, the challenge is even greater: traditional EMS personnel may be unable to enter until a scene has been secured and declared safe. The NOPJF Emergency Medical Responder Program was created to bridge that critical gap.
Developed in partnership with the New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation (NOPJF) and Sergeant Andrew Packer, a certified EMS paramedic, the program provides specially selected NOPD officers with advanced emergency medical training designed to allow them to provide immediate lifesaving care when professional paramedics cannot yet safely enter.
Becoming an Emergency Medical Responder is not simply an additional qualification. Officers must apply for the program and be selected, then commit to an intensive course of study and practical training. They learn the skills necessary to recognize and treat life-threatening injuries and medical emergencies while operating in the demanding environment of law enforcement. They can be identified by their bright blue medical bags which are a welcome sight when it matters most.
The program is made possible through a strong partnership with New Orleans EMS, whose personnel lead the training and development of participating officers. The NOPJF supports the program by funding critical medical equipment and hardware, ensuring officers have the tools necessary to put their training into practice when lives are on the line.
Bringing Medical Care Where It Is Needed Most
The need for this capability is particularly acute during violent or active-threat incidents. Under state and EMS safety protocols, paramedics must wait until a scene is declared safe – often referred to as “Code 4” – before they can enter. That necessary precaution can create a critical window in which an injured person may be without professional medical care.
NOPD Emergency Medical Responders are trained to operate in that window.
Their ability to begin medical intervention before traditional EMS can safely enter can mean controlling severe bleeding, treating traumatic injuries, supporting breathing, and stabilizing victims until paramedics are able to take over. To date, the program has been credited with saving at least 40 lives through medical intervention.
That impact demonstrates why the program is more than an investment in equipment or training. It is an investment in giving officers the knowledge, confidence, and capability to preserve life when circumstances make immediate access to EMS impossible.
A Commitment to Continued Excellence
Sergeant Andrew Packer was instrumental in creating the program in partnership with the NOPJF. As a full EMS paramedic, his experience provides an important bridge between law enforcement and emergency medical response.
Only one other NOPD officer has achieved a comparable level of medical training: Detective John Huntington. After graduating from the EMR program, Detective Huntington continued his medical education, with additional support from the NOPJF through its Tuition Assistance Program. His continued pursuit of advanced training reflects the culture the program is designed to foster – officers who do not stop learning when they earn their initial qualification, but continue developing their ability to serve and protect the community.
Prepared for the Worst
The importance of this training was demonstrated during the January 1 attack, when officers were confronted with an incident involving critically injured victims and an active threat. The ability of trained officers to provide medical intervention in an environment where traditional EMS response was necessarily constrained was crucial.
The lessons from that incident have continued to shape the program. Since then, additional training has expanded the capabilities of participating officers, including dynamic shield entries into active-shooter scenes and techniques for safely extracting wounded victims from dangerous environments.
The NOPJF has also provided specialized litters that allow officers to move wounded individuals more safely and efficiently once they have been reached. These tools, combined with specialized training, help officers move victims from the point of injury toward definitive medical care as quickly as circumstances allow.
Investing in Officers. Saving Lives.
The Emergency Medical Responder Program represents the kind of partnership that can have an immediate and measurable impact on public safety. Through the NOPJF’s financial support, New Orleans EMS’s training expertise, and the dedication of officers willing to undertake demanding medical education, NOPD has developed a capability that can make the difference during the most critical moments.
At its core, the program recognizes a simple reality: when someone is critically injured, waiting for help may not be an option.
By equipping carefully selected officers with the training and equipment to provide lifesaving care before EMS can safely enter, the NOPJF is helping ensure that New Orleans has trained responders on scene when every second matters.
The result is measured not only in training hours, equipment, or certifications—but in lives saved.
If you are are interested in partnering with NOPJF, please email Matthew Stone at Matthew@nopjf.org.
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