Cleveland emergency services crews are now required to wear bulletproof vests.
City of Cleveland's Dan Williams told newsnet5.com that body armor has always been part of their gear, but they were never required to wear it.
Now Commissioner of EMS Nicole Carlton is making the call to require crews to wear their vests.
Carlton said the move was not in response to any specific threats, but she cited other incidents across the country where EMS workers were attacked on the job.
“We’ve had the equipment available," Carlton said, "I want to makes sure that my employees, at the end of the day, are going home safely to their families.”
This information comes as 15 EMTs and paramedics graduated from the EMT Cadet Training Academy Wednesday. Following their graduation, the cadets will continue training on an ambulance with field training officers.
