In 1975, Maplewood trained their first officers as paramedics and became the first city in Minnesota to provide the service through a police department.

The Maplewood Police Department is one of three police departments in Minnesota that currently operates a paramedic service through the police department. On November 22, 2004, the Maplewood City Council voted to modify this plan.

Eleven of the department’s 50 sworn officers are trained as paramedics. Under the revised plan, the Maplewood Fire Department will assist with the provision of this service utilizing full-time firefighter paramedics.

A paramedic coordinator has also been hired to organize the activities of all involved in the program. In the past, this function had been provided by a police sergeant.

These emergency medical professionals respond to over 3,000 medical emergencies per year. The Maplewood Emergency Medical Services system is a two-tiered approach.

If a patient is evaluated by a paramedic and found to not require advanced life support (ALS) services, the patient can be transported by the fire service’s trained emergency medical technicians (EMT) via basic life support (BLS) ambulance.

Initial paramedic training currently consists of over 16 months of training, which is provided by the city for those selected to be part of the program.

The paramedics are also required to attend over 50 hours of continuing education throughout the year in addition to other required continuing education.

If you would like more information regarding Maplewood EMS, contact Assistant Fire Chief/EMS Director Michael Mondor at (651) 249-2822.