PROVIDING CASUALTY CARE TO FIRST LINE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
SAVING LIVES
J. NAKAGAWA, MD, DIRECTOR OF TACTICAL MEDICINE, HPD
Law enforcement officers have unique authority and powers vested in them. Those which seem to get the most attention, for better or worse, are those that allow us to apprehend criminals, enforce laws, and on occasion, to use force. However, they are just a part of the mission of our profession: to help those in need, both on and off duty. Our training allows us to do professionally what all good citizens want to do personally; to resolve disputes, stop injustice, and aid our fellow citizens. One infrequently discussed way in which we frequently make a positive impact is by providing medical aid. Though many people do not realize it, all officers in the state of California are trained to provide basic medical care as first responders.
Unfortunately, this training is limited and not emphasized in many departments and officers often lose their comfort with these skills. Our own experience at the Hawthorne Police Department with losing several of our own officers and seeing our citizens hurt or ill has led us to explore new and innovative ways to do more for those we serve. We began by creating a tactical medicine team of SWAT officers trained in lifesaving skills and sent several to train as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s). Their skills were used far more on patrol and off duty than during SWAT operations and the decision was made to provide this training to all of our officers. Knowledge is useless without the tools to use it, so each officer was also issued a medical kit and encouraged to use it. Each patrol vehicle was equipped with defibrillators and a medical kit containing everything an officer might need in those critical few minutes between their arrival and the fire department paramedic’s.
“Treating a fallen officer is not the time you want to learn how to apply a chest seal.”
— J. Nakagawa, MD
Since the inception of the program our officers have saved many lives and made a huge positive difference in the lives of our citizens both on duty and off duty. These stories of dedication and caring are best told by the men and women who are out there every day using their training to make that difference. In our Testimonial page, you will read Officer Michael Murray’s account of his experiences. Officer Murray was one of the first to volunteer for the medical team and has since taken a lead role in training and education with the tactical medicine team. His story embodies the character of the Hawthorne Police Department and the fine men and women who work here.
2022 Program Updates
J. Nakagawa, MD
Director of Medical Services, HPD
Following 2020, 2021 was also dominated by COVID and has been up and down. First, we were locked down, then not, then masked, then unmasked, then masked again… It’s enough to make your head spin. Through it all, we have done our best to balance morale with safety, infection control with our duties, and seemed to have made it through ok. Some of us have lost friends, family, and colleagues to the virus, and all of us have lost something, be it our social lives, recreation, or freedoms. Just recently, we lost one of our retired colleagues, Derek Cabrera to complications of COVID and are still mourning his loss.
On a brighter note, our TACMED program has been full speed ahead, saving lives and making a difference in our community. With the introduction of Axon body cameras, we have been able to share all of the great things our men and women do, including the lives they have saved. Narcan saves seem to be a weekly thing, and tourniquets and chest seals are not far behind. Our Instagram page highlights many of these saves and is much more powerful than our words.
We have continued to expand in both numbers and scope. Our training of other cities continues apace, and we have spread our TacMed from one end of the county to the other (and beyond). We have ramped up our AED and Narcan programs and helped bring these to other departments. We believe that this knowledge should be available to everyone, sworn and civilian, and training is the majority of where we devote our efforts.
Since our last update, we have increased our EMT staffing to 18, and added 3 more paramedics for a total of 5. Additionally, we have been working with the Los Angeles County EMS Agency to create a new scope of practice for Law Enforcement based paramedics. The Hawthorne Police Department is now the one of two agencies in the county to field so many sworn officers who are certified paramedics (LASD being the other).
Though the last two years have been focused on COVID and damage control, we have also had the opportunity to learn and grow from the experience. We have implemented an internal health maintenance program, the ability to test in house, and offer these services to the unhoused persons in our city. We have increased our homeless outreach/testing and referral services in the field to ensure that they are not left behind.
Overall, we are continuing our expansion and progression on all fronts for 2022. This promises to be an exciting year and we expect to add more personnel and neighboring agencies to our list of partners as we endeavor to shake up the status quo.
2020 TACMED PROGRAM UPDATES
J. NAKAGAWA, MD, DIRECTOR OF TACTICAL MEDICINE, HPD
2020 has been a year to forget for many of us who live and work in the City of Hawthorne. COVID-19 has dominated and affected every aspect of our lives. Many of us have experienced personal losses of family, friends, and acquaintances. Those of us who have escaped the virus’s malign touch have still been saddled with loss of jobs, income, or places to live. Our lives are vastly different in now, in December than they were just a year ago when we started hearing of a mysterious virus spreading in Wuhan, China.
Though this year will certainly be remembered as the “Year of COVID,” there were good things to remember as well. Here at the Hawthorne Police Department, our Tactical Medicine Program has grown by leaps and bounds and is regularly demonstrating its benefit to the community in terms of lives saved. In just the last few months, our officers have saved the lives of a 9-year-old drowning victim, a young woman who was bleeding to death after a gunshot, and a baby who was found not breathing by mom.
First of all, we’ve officially brought on Dr. Nakagawa as the full time Medical Director to oversee the program. In addition to increasing our capabilities and level of service, we’ve been able to acquire more equipment and supplies to help our community. Luckily, when COVID reared its ugly head, Dr. Nakagawa was here to coordinate our pandemic response and limit the impact COVID would have on our services. We acquired masks, sanitizer, and other protective equipment, as well as implemented infection control and screening measures to protect our staff and our community.
In January, we graduated our first two Paramedics in the history of the Hawthorne Police Department. Captain Eric Lane and Sergeant Michael Murray graduated from the UCLA Prehospital Care Center’s Paramedic Training Program and are full-fledged Paramedics. Their skills and knowledge are now part of our toolbox which we can use to help both our community as well as those of the surrounding cities. As we ramp up our program, you can expect to see our medics out there more often, saving lives with the fire department Paramedics. We’ve enrolled another two officers in Paramedic School, so we should soon have four Paramedics available to provide lifesaving care.
This year also marks our official collaboration with the UCLA Center for Prehospital Care. In addition to teaching future EMT’s and Paramedics there, UCLA’s nurse educator keeps our EMT’s and Paramedics up to date with the latest therapies and regulations in Los Angeles County. This relationship keeps us on the cutting edge of training and education, in touch with the latest developments in EMS (Emergency Medical Services).
Looking into the near future, we’re continuing our growth, both in terms of staff and capability. Our goal is to send another two officers to Paramedic School and another ten to EMT school. We’re acquiring other equipment such as defibrillators and vehicles in order to deliver our personnel and skills to the community. As law enforcement evolves during these dynamic times, we at the Hawthorne Police Department will continue to be at the cutting edge, providing safety in every available way to our community, from prevention, to treatment, to recovery.