When the Collierville (TN) Fire Department launches its first ever ambulance transport service in July of 2022, Mark Carter will be at the helm as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Chief.

Carter began his career with Collierville Fire on Monday, December 6, 2021, and said his initial project management task list includes obtaining all the necessary state licenses for the ambulances and for the organization and getting everything ready for ambulance inspection in June so as be ready to begin service July 1, 2022.

His familiarity with the process of building and managing an ambulance service comes from years of experience, and it’s why he was unanimously chosen by the interview panel for this position. Carter is a native of Memphis and earned his Paramedic Certification from Shelby State Community College. He worked as a firefighter/paramedic for the City of Germantown from 1987-1991, and as EMS Chief for Germantown Fire from 1991-2018. Most recently, he worked as Ambulance Sales Manager for G&W/EVS starting in 2019 through his recent hire with Collierville. Carter also worked as an EMT Instructor at Southwest Community College from 2011-2017 and has worked for the Delta Fair organization since 2008 as EMS Operation Manager. 

“This is a mission critical service for the Town,” said Administrative Chief Mark King. “It requires a subject matter expert with a unique skill set requiring extensive knowledge and experience. Mr. Carter has experience with setting up multiple ambulance services from the ground up and has extensive knowledge with Collierville’s Fire Records Management System Software. He basically laid out a comprehensive business plan for our transition and understood the urgency of what processes need to be completed for the July implementation.”

Carter’s plan is to place the five ambulances in-service starting in July and continually evaluate how the services are delivered to the citizens. Benchmarking performance measures will be established to ensure that goals are met, and that the citizens of Collierville are receiving the best business practices regarding the standard of care. 

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen recognized the Town had outgrown its third-party ambulance transport service, which was provided by Rural Metro Ambulance with two ambulances. The Town’s population growth and increased demand for EMS services required additional ambulances to deliver service to the citizens in a timely manner. By providing its own service, the Town will have greater flexibility and provide quality assurance to citizens by assuring the continuation of their own paramedic services from point of contact to deliver at the emergency room. The cost of the new service is $4.2 million, which includes five new ambulances incorporating the newest technology, ideas, and features, along with state-of-the-art medical equipment, and twenty-two new personnel, which will staff three ambulances each day.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) recognizes achievement in the volunteer fire and emergency services through its annual awards program. Honor outstanding volunteers from your department by submitting your nominations by January 14. Categories include lifetime achievement, health and wellness leadership, junior firefighter, and junior firefighter program.

• NVFC Lifetime Achievement Award: Sponsored by ADT, this award honors a volunteer firefighter who has served at least 20 years and has made a major contribution or achieved significant accomplishments in the volunteer fire service at the local, state, and/or national level.

• Chief James P. Seavey Sr. Health and Wellness Leadership Award: Sponsored by VFIS and Ward Diesel Filter Systems, this award honors an active volunteer firefighter, EMS provider, or rescue worker who has served as a leader in creating or promoting emergency responder health and wellness programs or initiatives in areas including, but not limited to, firefighter cancer, heart health, behavioral health, and overall health and wellness.

• Junior Firefighter of the Year Award: Sponsored by California Casualty, this award honors a junior firefighter, cadet, or Explorer who has shown extraordinary dedication, commitment, and achievements as a youth member of the fire service.

• Junior Firefighter Program of the Year Award: Sponsored by California Casualty, this award recognizes a department that has an outstanding junior firefighter program. The program must have been in operation for at least one year, and departments must demonstrate creativity and community impact for the program.

These prestigious national awards are designed to highlight the accomplishments and dedication of fire service volunteers who go above and beyond in their service to their department and community. Each recipient gets a personalized award and national recognition in honor of their achievements.

The recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Chief James P. Seavey Sr. Health and Wellness Leadership Award, and Junior Firefighter of the Year Award will receive a trip for themselves and a guest to the NVFC spring meeting awards banquet in April 2022 in Arlington, VA. The Junior Firefighter Program of the Year will be honored at a local recognition ceremony so that all of their members can attend.

View full criteria and submit your nominations at www.nvfc.org/awards by January 14.

Award Sponsors

About the National Volunteer Fire Council
The NVFC is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides critical resources, programs, education, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.

At approximately 11:40AM on December 16, 2021 the Utica Police Department was notified of the theft of Utica Fire Department vehicle Rescue 2.  Rescue 2 is a multi-purpose, multi-response vehicle employed by UFD.  Information was provided that the vehicle was stolen by an unknown individual while it was parked on the 500 block of Bleecker St. 

An undercover Utica Police Investigator noticed the vehicle on the 700 block of Bleecker St and began to follow it until uniformed Utica Police cars could attempt to initiate a stop.  Once uniformed cars got behind the vehicle they attempted to stop it, however the operator fled leading them on a pursuit.

The pursuit continued until North Genesee St where the operator then began to drive northbound in the southbound lanes striking two vehicles and continuing.  Thankfully, during these collisions neither of the motorists were injured.  The vehicle continued to flee until its reckless actions caused the Utica Police Department to terminate the pursuit.

A New York State Police vehicle in the area then began to pursue the vehicle onto River Rd, onto Route 12, and ultimately onto the New York State Thruway.  Approximately a mile west of exit 31 the driver abandoned the vehicle when it got stuck in a grassy area and fled on foot back toward the Walmart area.

Members of the NYSP were able to take him into custody within moments and he was soon turned over to officers with the Utica Police Department.

At that point his identity was learned to be Brandon Hatton age 29 of Utica.

Once his identity was confirmed, we knew Hatton to have been charged, booked, and released on three previous occasions just on December 16th alone.

The first incident occurred at Tiny’s Bar and Grill on State St when he illegally made entry into the establishment by breaking a window.  During that incident he was charged with Criminal Trespass and Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree.

After being released on Appearance Tickets he then proceeded to enter several vehicles in the Mohawk St area and steal items.  Owners of those vehicles caught him the act, and when Police got into the area to attempt to take him into custody Hatton fled on foot.  After a brief pursuit Hatton was taken into custody and booked on charges of Obstructing Governmental Administration in the second degree and Petit Larceny.  He was then charged and booked on another count of Petit Larceny and released on Appearance Tickets.

At this time members of the Utica Police Department Patrol Division and Criminal Investigations Division are compiling charges against Hatton, but charges he will be facing are:

• Grand Larceny in the second degree
• Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the second degree
• Reckless Endangerment
• Criminal Mischief (pending estimate)
• Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident
• Various NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law violations
• Additional charges are likely

At the culmination of the completion of the charges he will be brought for arraignment to the applicable court.

Related Articles:
Escambia County (FL) Firefighter’s Truck Stolen from Station on Thanksgiving
Stolen Albany (OR) Fire Department Apparatus Located in Eugene; Suspect Arrested
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