SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Tuesday, September 23, 2025 — For the second day in a row, Santa Monica police officers and firefighters responded to a medical call involving a man in a wheelchair at Palisades Park. It appeared to be the same individual transported to a hospital the previous day.
This time, the man was cared for and transported by the Santa Monica Fire Department’s new in-house ambulance service, a pilot effort now in its second day of operation. Firefighters assessed the man’s condition on scene before transferring him to the hospital in the department’s Basic Life Support (BLS) unit.
Santa Monica Fire Battalion Chief-EMS Patrick Nulty explained that the program introduces a city-operated ambulance staffed by emergency medical technicians known as Ambulance Operators. These single-role EMTs drive the vehicle and provide basic life support care while working alongside firefighters and paramedics. Nulty said the initiative offers a valuable entry point for those pursuing careers in public safety and provides a cost-effective way to expand emergency response capabilities.
The new unit is expected to strengthen the city’s ability to handle non-critical medical calls and improve response times for residents and visitors alike.
Santa Monica Closeup continues to follow the rollout of this program and other public safety developments across the city.
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