Fire And Emergency Medical Services

Covered Professionals

ALL sworn fire and (pre-hospital) emergency medicine professionals, including: 

City/municipal, county, state and federal – Firefighters, public and private sector Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians.

The SITREP:

Just like your law enforcement counterparts, you too take a professional oath, obtain employment licenses and certifications as America’s fire and emergency medical services heroes.  And like LEOs, you too have increasingly become the subject of internal investigations resulting from complaints of citizens during the course and scope of your duties.

State Emergency Medical Services Authorities (EMSAs), Local Emergency Medical Services Agencies (LEMSAs), and Counties, issue State certification(s) to both Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (AEMT) and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), the practitioners (i.e.,

EMT-P’s, AEMT’s and EMT’s) are investigated and disciplined for violations of the state Health and Safety Code by their respective licensing/certifying entity, while City Attorney’s and District Attorneys retain purview over criminal investigations.  However, investigations 

The licensing implications of unfavorably adjudicated incidents can be career-ending and the criminal implications disastrous.  Most investigations are internal and largely concern Administrative Law and Procedure.  Criminal investigations involving law enforcement and prosecutorial offices compound the challenges of mounting a successful defense eve more challenging.  In both scenarios, firefighters & paramedics/EMTs, are often at a disadvantage due to the lack of sufficient representation to address the complexities of licensing and certification investigative procedures (See below example). 

 We maintain a network of attorneys and subject matter experts who are tenured Administrative and Criminal law professionals:  e.g., LEMSA investigators, former assistant District and State’s Attorneys, seasoned defense attorneys, judges, policy analysts, administrative & employment law practitioners, criminal investigators, forensic specialists, public relations and social media consultants, and EMS industry advocates.

Our services will allow for you to continue your way of life and provide for your family if you have an incident which requires you to defend yourself against allegations which could result in suspension, demotion, termination and/or criminal indictment.

 A Sentinel Defense Legal Services Plan is the partner you need when you run a call!

A California example…

Disciplinary procedures against an EMT-P license are delineated in the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 4: Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic, Article 9: Discipline and Reinstatement of License as well as Health and Safety Code, Division 2.5 Chapter 7, Penalties.  Disciplinary procedures against an AEMT or an EMT certification are defined in the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 6: Process for EMT and Advanced EMT Disciplinary Action along with Health and Safety Code, Division 2.5 Chapter 7, Penalties.  Proceedings to deny, suspend or revoke a license or certificate must be done in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, Government Code, Section 11500 et seq.  As defined in Government Code a respondent has the right to representation.  Although there may be cross-over, employment investigations and discipline are typically independent of the administrative investigations surrounding a license.  However, investigations involving fire-fighters, by the employer or certifying entity must be conducted in accordance with the Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights (Government Code, Title 1, Division 4, Chapter 9.6).