CFD to get more paramedics

By Randy Bell

It’s been a struggle for the Clinton Fire Department (CFD) to meet its goal of having a paramedic on duty for each shift at all four fire stations.  That would mean having at least twelve medics, and CFD currently has only four following the recent retirement of two veteran firefighters, both of whom were certified as paramedics.

“Jake DeLaughter, who was a deputy chief here, retired at the end of April; and Jeremy Wallace, who was also here for twenty-five years, retired in February,” says Fire Chief Levius Buckley.

However, efforts are underway to get more paramedics trained, and the Board of Aldermen, at its May 5 meeting, approved tuition assistance agreements with two firefighters under which they’ll attend paramedic school at the City’s expense.

Hollice Maulden and Joshua Wilson are committed to working for the Clinton Fire Department for two years after passing their Paramedic National Registry exams.

“In the event that they don’t, they’re liable for the money spent by the Fire Department and the City,” Buckley says.

According to the chief, much of the course work is done online, so Maulden and Wilson will continue to man some regular shifts except during the clinical portion of their training.

Buckley says a third firefighter is expected to begin working toward paramedic certification in August but is not asking for tuition assistance.