- Ballistic helmets and tactical vests now sit on the ambulances and fire engines in Howard
- Firefighters and emergency medical workers are required to wear the helmets and vests during drug overdose calls
- Equipment was bought with a $20,000 grant
(The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story)
Earlier this week, I brought you the story of local election workers receiving active shooter training.
They aren’t the only ones making sure they’re prepared for a worst-case scenario. I’m your Howard neighborhood reporter Pari Apostolakos, here with why the fire department just got some new equipment they hope to never have to use.
“Starting out, you know, 20 years ago in my career you never would have thought that you would need this type of equipment.”
Howard Fire Chief Dennis Staeven says active shooter events across the country and even locally, like the shooting death of a firefighter in Appleton in 2019, made him want to prepare his department for a worst-case scenario.