Police Week 2022: Meet TEMS Member Mathew James

It’s Police Week in Ontario from May 15th-21st, 2022.

National Police Week began in 1970 as a way for the police to connect with their communities and to increase awareness about the services they provide.

Public safety involves a collaborative effort within police agencies and between police services, first responders, as well as social and community organizations. During this public awareness campaign, we’ll be featuring the various GSPS partnerships and collaborative efforts that contribute to the safety of citizens in Greater Sudbury.

Meet Mathew James (left), member of the Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services Tactical Emergency Medical Services (TEMS) program: 

Q: What is your role/title? What is a typical day like in your role?

A: I am a Tactical Paramedic/Advanced Care Paramedic. Much like policing, there is no typical day as a Tactical Paramedic. When not deployed in the TEMS capacity, I service regular calls for service alongside my partner in a transporting ambulance.

Things can quickly change at a moment’s notice from attending regular calls to getting activated by our GSPS Emergency Response Unit colleagues and being immersed in a high risk and unpredictable setting.

Q: Why do you love doing what you do?

A: I love the fact that I have the opportunity to make a difference in patients’ lives by providing the supports they need to get them through a difficult time.

Q: What does your organization’s partnership with the Greater Sudbury Police Service mean to you? How does this partnership benefit the community?

A: I would say the partnership with GSPS makes me proud to work alongside such a great organization.

As a Tactical Paramedic, I feel honoured to be entrusted to work in an environment that very few people outside the policing world would get to experience.

The partnership between GSPS and Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services TEMS program is vital in enhancing community safety by having highly trained medical professionals readily available in high risk environments.

I’m excited to see this partnership continue to grow.

Happy Police Week GSPS!