Tactical Paramedics Join Dearborn SWAT Team

The Dearborn Police and Fire Departments announced today the addition of two "tactical paramedics" to the Dearborn Police Special Weapons and Tactics Team.

The two added paramedics, Ryan Clark and Wael Gharbie, are full-time Dearborn Firefighters that are now on-call for response with the Dearborn SWAT Team. 

“This was a shared vision of national best practices and practical application of city resources," said Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad. "The citizens, officers, and firefighters now have a much faster medical response in a critical situation.” 

Clark and Gharbie both attended the Western Wayne SWAT Academy and the Schoolcraft Community College Police Reserve Academy.

As a tactical Paramedic, they will be certified as paramedics, trained as police officers, and also trained for a SWAT response. Their primary duties will include: use of specialized medical equipment, tactical emergency casualty care, and casualty extraction, the report said.

Additionally, the HAZMAT, confined spaces, and use of Personal Protection Equipment training they've acquired from the Fire Department provides an in-house resource for the SWAT team to improve its ability to work in a contaminated site.

The men were sworn-in as Reserve Police Officers on Thursday, Dec. 19.  

“This was a great team effort between the Fire and Police Departments to enhance the safety and security of our citizens," said Chief Joseph Murray. "We are setting the standard for rapid patient care in critical situations.”