Page 14 - Summer 2017 Final

Special Operations Medical Group Provides

Support through Tactical Emergency Services

The April, 2013 Boston Marathon bombing member of the Special Tactical Operations
and associated gun battle in Watertown thrust Team, coordinates the training and maintains
Massachusetts law enforcement onto the front interagency cooperation to ensure readiness in
lines of treating mass casualties with traumatic emergency situations. Through his efforts, the
bleeding injuries. Since that time, the need Department devoted resources to train and equip
for improved medical equipment and tactical all troopers with QuikClot Combat Gauze and
training became a priority for not only the the SWAT-T Tourniquet. “The risk is too great
Massachusetts State Police, but departments today to not train with the proper equipment
across the country and around the world. and have tactical medical personnel ready for
any sized event”, said Barry. This training and
equipment enables all troopers to take quick
action to save lives, which may include their own.

Since the rollout of Combat Gauze and
tourniquets in 2015, several troopers have
used their training or issued equipment to treat
critically wounded victims and in some cases,
help save lives. This was evident on October 12,
2016 in East Boston when Boston Police Officers
Richard Cintolo and Matthew Morris were
In June of 2014, the State Police Academy critically wounded by gunfire. Troopers Alexander
in New Braintree hosted the Counter Narcotics Smith and Louis Williams assisted Boston Police
and Terrorism Operational Medical Support Officers to pull the wounded officers to safety.
(CONTOMS) Tactical Medic Program. The Trooper Smith applied direct pressure to Officer
weeklong federally funded training is designed Morris’ wound to control bleeding from his
to build medical skills and improve tactical femoral artery as a Boston Police Officer applied
operations in adverse conditions. The goal is a tourniquet. Approximately one month later,
to prepare all members to react quickly to real
world emergencies and perform under stress.
Many troopers who were already certified as
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and
paramedics, became certified as tactical medics.

In 2015, the Massachusetts State
Police Special Operations Medical Group was
established to target the clear need in this area
of public service. The group meets monthly
and trains with other EMTs, paramedics, and
tactical medics from many agencies, including Trooper Barry was the first EMT on the scene to treat
local and federal law enforcement, members the victim of an officer involved shooting in Lynn.
of the military, and medical personnel from
UMass Medical Center and Worcester EMS. On March 15, 2017, Troop D Communications
received 911 calls reporting gunshots fired at the
Trooper Sean Barry, an EMT and a
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