Funding for certain Centre LifeLink EMS personnel to receive weapons training hasn’t even been approved yet, but the proposal is causing controversy and what Centre LifeLink officials call “misinformation” about their request.
The Centre LifeLink board recently requested $10,000 from the Centre Region Council of Governments for eight tactical paramedics who support the Centre County Tactical Response Team to undergo Act 235 Lethal Weapons Training.
Though the funding request does not mean the Centre LifeLink board will arm tactical paramedics, it was met with overwhelming opposition from the COG General Forum. Only a few members spoke in favor of the training. Elliot Abrams, the Patton Township chairman, said, in support, “This (training) is an insurance policy. Hopefully we’ll never have to use it.”