Physicians becoming involved in law enforcement is not a new phenomena. Physicians, like Lawrence Heiskell MD, have been advocating advanced medical care at the street level for many years. Though a small group currently, physicians are increasingly adding their expertise and time to law enforcement throughout the United States. Media exposure highlighting the heroic actions of "SWAT Docs" in areas like Tennessee and Dallas has only helped bring public attention to the dangers police officers face every day. My career in law enforcement began in 1985 with a small municipal police department. When I started my college studies, I was hired by a state police department in California. After being accepted to medical school, my relationship with law enforcement ended temporarily until 1999.  While completing my fellowship in Critical Care Medicine, I was fortunate enough to supervise the care of a deputy sheriff who had been shot in the line of duty. This young man left a lasting impression on me. This experience coupled with the handful of other injured peace officers I have provided care for in my career has led me to join the ranks of physicians who also hold the honor of being called police officers. In 2006, I enrolled in a P.O.S.T certified extended modular police academy in Southern California. Approximately 14 months later, I graduated from the basic academy. In early 2008, I joined a moderate size municipal police department and started the FTO program within the patrol division. After three years in the patrol division working weekend swing shift as well as consulting on various medical projects within the department, I was invited to join our SWAT team. In 2011, I graduated from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Special Enforcement Bureau SWAT Academy. Using this experience, I feel honored to be part of the evolution of critical medical care, crisis management and leadership training physicians are bringing to the men and women who protect us every day.

Medicine and Law Enforcement

76 law enforcement officers have so far lost their lives in the line of duty in 2011. 32 of these officers were shot and killed. Its often spoken that motor vehicle accidents are the number one threat officers face in the line of duty but this is not true. From information collected by the Officer Down Memorial web site, each year for the last 10 years, more law enforcement officers have been shot and killed than died in car accidents. With the increasing threat of rifles to law enforcement officers, the time between injury and starting medical care has become critical. The "Golden Hour" defined as the time a critically injured patient should arrive at a trauma center for care has arguably decreased to "golden minutes" with death occurring as quickly as a 180 seconds. Tactical medicine courses, seminars and programs are increasing in number to help combat this increasing threat. Can we do more? Can medicine and law enforcement further join together to bring life saving care to the streets?