UTPD EMR Class Graduates – Summer 2026
When a medical emergency happens on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus, every second matters. In many cases, the first person to arrive isn’t a paramedic, it’s a University of Tennessee Police Department (UTPD) officer.
To help ensure lifesaving care begins as quickly as possible, UTPD has partnered with AMR East Tennessee to train the university’s first class of Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs). Eight UTPD officers recently graduated from the inaugural program, marking an important step forward in strengthening the university’s emergency preparedness and expanding the number of trained medical responders on campus.
Emergency Medical Responders receive specialized training that prepares them to assess patients, perform CPR, use automated external defibrillators (AEDs), control severe bleeding, apply tourniquets, manage airways, administer certain emergency medications, and stabilize patients until emergency medical services arrive. These skills can make a critical difference during cardiac arrests, traumatic injuries, active-threat incidents, mass-casualty events, and other emergencies where immediate intervention can save lives.
“Police officers are often among the first responders on scene during a medical emergency,” said Daniel “Wesley” Brookshear, field training officer program supervisor for AMR East Tennessee. “By equipping UTPD personnel with Emergency Medical Responder training, we’re expanding the number of people on campus who can provide lifesaving care when seconds matter most.”
The partnership between UTPD and AMR East Tennessee enhances the university’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies involving students, faculty, staff, and visitors. It also strengthens coordination between law enforcement and emergency medical services, helping create a seamless response when emergencies occur.
UTPD Chief Sean Patterson said the additional training reinforces the department’s commitment to protecting the campus community.
“This training puts critical lifesaving medical skills in the hands of our officers,” Patterson said. “It makes us a more prepared campus partner to handle emergencies when they arise.”
The graduation of the first EMR class represents another milestone in the university’s ongoing commitment to campus safety. By increasing the number of trained responders capable of providing immediate medical care, UTPD and AMR East Tennessee are helping ensure lifesaving interventions can begin as quickly as possible—when every second counts.