The newly-created Cumberland County Emergency Medical Responder Program takes home state honors and it has not been fully rolled out.
The County Services Association recognized Cumberland County with the 2025 Tennessee County Success Award. Cumberland County Emergency Medical Services Director Chris Miller said the EMR program is unique in that communities usually enlist fire personnel for their EMR programs. Cumberland County trained law enforcement personnel.
“This is a huge step for these law enforcement officers, this is something they are stepping outside their comfort zone,” Miller said. “This is not what they are kind of geared to do, but the fact that they are willing to do this shows the commitment to this community and what they are willing to do to make a difference.”
Miller said there are currently 13 law enforcement officers trained in the EMR program. While the staff is ready to go, Miller said the agencies are still awaiting on some equipment and for the State of Tennessee to sign off on Cumberland County’s program.
Miller said the EMR program makes sense for Cumberland County. Miller said law enforcement personnel are often the first ones on the scene of an emergency, so the advanced EMR training is essential when seconds count.
“We just saw this as an opportunity to try to, you know that’s what we’re here for, to save lives,” Miller said.
Miller said the EMR program will be a benefit for Cumberland County as soon as it launches.
“They will save somebody’s life, in a matter of, in a short amount of time,” Miller said. “And it may be somebody, because in our business, minutes matter. That’s a cliché’, but it’s the truth.”
Miller said there has not been a timeline set for the program’s launch.
