The day after Eric Jones was appointed Detroit Fire Commissioner, Detroit EMTs Alfredo Rojas and Kelly Adams were viciously attacked by a man with a box cutter.
Now, Jones is fast tracking safety training for Detroit medics
"The first thing I want to do is immediately get them some training as it relates to de-escalation and how to handle violent individuals or mental individuals at a scene," Jones said.
It will start with communication training called "verbal judo," skills for medics to de-escalate a violent person. Jones says Boston EMS got the same training from Detroit police.
"We spoke with Boston EMS and the Detroit Police Academy trained their EMTs in verbal judo," Jones said. "We have the best of the best firefighters, EMTs, police, so Chief (James) Craig offered that training.
Jones couldn't say why Detroit police and EMS haven't gotten together on safety training in the past.