Center for Law Enforcement Medicine

Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine has provided dedicated medical oversight and direction for law enforcement since 1999.  In 2004, Johns Hopkins developed an advanced program to support the specialized needs of Tactical Medics assigned to SWAT and Special Response Teams.  In 2007, the Johns Hopkins University Center for Emergency Medicine was established within this infrastructure as a collaborative initiative between Johns Hopkins and its allied law enforcement agency partners. Today, the Center for Law Enforcement Medicine stands capable of assisting with the development of all aspects of law enforcement operational medicine programs and is a model for such medical direction and support nationally.

Roles and functions of the Center for Law Enforcement Medicine include:

• Agency-wide medical oversight and comprehensive medical direction including continuous 24/7 direct medical control.
• Development and validating agency-wide emergency response guidelines and policies.
• Training and continuing education for law enforcement medical providers.
• Hospital and prehospital venues for clinical training and proficiency of patient care skills.
• Advanced training for operational medical providers with expanded scopes of practice in the operational setting, as appropriate.
• Operational medical support for high-risk missions and National Special Security Events.
• Logistical and operational readiness support in the form of acquisition of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals.
• Referral and coordination of affiliated law enforcement personnel to specialty and subspecialty medical services throughout the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and Health System.

Specially trained physicians, physician assistants, nurses and paramedics from Johns Hopkins have been deployed to dozens of high-risk field operations such as:

• International medical support missions for direct care of both protectees and protective detail personnel.
• Medical response teams at high-profile domestic mass gatherings and designated National Special Security Events.
• Tactical medical support of missions including high-risk warrant service, fugitive apprehension, barricade and hostage extended operations, civil disturbance preparedness and executive protection.