The Peoria Fire Department is asking the city council for a budget amendment to buy EMT’s 20 ballistic vests and 16 helmets for protection in the case of a mass shooting.
Assistant Fire Chief Tony Ardis said the strategy of first responders has changed over time.
“The way these things were handled was law enforcement would arrive, surround the building and wait for SWAT to come. And the rescue personnel like the fire department and the paramedics would sit back until the threat was neutralized,” Ardis said. “What we found was people were dying because of that”.
The request for the vests and helmets has been in the works for several months.
“The timing is ironic, we understand that,” Ardis said regarding the mass shootings that happened last weekend in Texas and Ohio.
Ardis said that nobody is immune to these types of things.
“At this stage of the game, when there’s been so many, turning a blind eye to it or praying that it doesn’t happen is irresponsible,” Ardis said.
During the event of a mass shooting, law enforcement, fire departments, and paramedics work hand in hand.
Ardis said that city council members have been supportive of the idea.
“The response has been very positive. They have our best interests in mind,” Ardis said. “We know budget is tight, and we certainly wouldn’t be asking for these this if we didn’t feel it was absolutely necessary to have them”.
The fire department is hoping for a ‘yes’ vote Tuesday night at City Hall.
