Tuesday, September 4, 2012

** South African paramedic escort program dead on arrival?

** Washington police shoot and kill US combat medic

SOUTH AFRICA NEWS

** A new Western Cape initiative aimed at stemming the number of attacks on EMS personnel appears to have been little more than political grandstanding. That, at least, is the sense from neighborhood watch participants who were set to begin their role as prehospital escorts last week. The West Cape News (Nombulelo Damba/August 29) quoted watch member Thanduxolo Shenxane as saying most guards gave up and went home the program’s first day. Shenxane said they were not provided with any of the promised equipment like flashlights, radios, and other items. Training was also not given. The foul-ups follow the public launch in which paramedics were not told they would soon be accompanied into dangerous call areas by watch members. Speaking to the recent failure, a spokesman for the health minister said more work needs to be done to round out the pilot project’s details. A Community Safety Department spokesman, meanwhile, said the program would begin this week.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** Mystery continues to surround the fatal Friday shooting of a US combat medic by police in Tacoma, Washington. The Chicago Tribune (Carlos Sadovi/September 2) quoted authorities as saying Sgt. Prince Gavin was killed during a response to an alleged domestic disturbance. Police were vague on why the officer fired his weapon twice into the man’s chest. They did say, however, he was armed at the time. According to the newspaper, Gavin was alighting from his truck when officers arrived on-scene at Gavin’s girlfriend’s home. Gavin’s mother, Lasandra Lartheride, said she is certain her son would not have pointed his weapon at police. An eight year army veteran, he had served tours in Iraq and South Korea. He was to have reported to his new duty station in Fort Carson, Colorado on September 10.