New State Guidelines for Emergency Responders

All Practice Areas

That was far from the case previously, with tensions often existing, for example, between state troopers  and fire chiefs concerning who was in control, whether a lane or highway needed to be shut down and related matters. In fact, a state trooper arrested a Morris County deputy fire chief in 2006 over a traffic-flow dispute when the latter refused to move a fire truck that was operating as a safety buffer.

The control issue “goes back quite awhile,” says Paul Loriquet, spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office. Notes Naylis: “You had verbal altercations with police and fire.”

The new guidelines seek to end bickering and confusion, as well as increase accident-site safety. They specify that state police are in charge in all emergency response situations on state highways, but they also call for a “unified command” and stress cooperation among responders.

Muccio and others are thankful for what they believe will clear up friction, control issues and general confusion. “We’ve never had a document like this,” says Muccio. “Let’s apply it and make the job safe.”

Related Resource: www.northjersey.com “Safety playbook may be lifesaver” August 18, 2010

That was far from the case previously, with tensions often existing, for example, between state troopers  and fire chiefs concerning who was in control, whether a lane or highway needed to be shut down and related matters. In fact, a state trooper arrested a Morris County deputy fire chief in 2006 over a traffic-flow dispute when the latter refused to move a fire truck that was operating as a safety buffer.

The control issue “goes back quite awhile,” says Paul Loriquet, spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office. Notes Naylis: “You had verbal altercations with police and fire.”

The new guidelines seek to end bickering and confusion, as well as increase accident-site safety. They specify that state police are in charge in all emergency response situations on state highways, but they also call for a “unified command” and stress cooperation among responders.

Muccio and others are thankful for what they believe will clear up friction, control issues and general confusion. “We’ve never had a document like this,” says Muccio. “Let’s apply it and make the job safe.”

Related Resource: www.northjersey.com “Safety playbook may be lifesaver” August 18, 2010