Ill. Lawmakers Propose Emergency Responder Task Force

April 16--SPRINGFIELD -- The deaths of a Central Illinois firefighter and police officer could lead to a task force that would focus on decreasing fatalities among emergency responders.

Hudson firefighter Chris Brown was killed March 5, 2013, while at the scene of an accident on Interstate 39 near Hudson. Pontiac K-9 Officer Casey Kohlmeier was killed Oct. 30 while stopped in a median turnaround on Interstate 55 near Pontiac.

Brown was a high school classmate of state Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, sponsor of a pending bill in the Illinois Senate. State Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, is co-sponsor.

"Illinois continues to lose an alarming number of first responders in the line of duty as they respond to calls on our interstates, highways and county roads," Rose said. "Being a first responder, transportation or highway worker presents certain dangers and we must examine ways to reduce the number of fatalities."

Senate Joint Resolution 62 would create the Emergency Responder Roadway Safety Task Force, which would identify and recommend ways the state could increase safety procedures as first responders perform their jobs, Rose said.

The 17-member task force would include representatives from the Illinois Department of Transportation; Illinois State Police; fire, police and emergency medical services in rural, suburban and major metropolitan areas; industry; and legislators.

Greg Scott, director of McLean County Area EMS System, said there is a need for the task force.

"As emergency responders are rendering assistance to those that are in need along Illinois roadways, it is of critical importance for mechanisms to be identified to keep these emergency responders as safe as possible during their time on the roadways," he said. "There is a need for elected officials, state agency representatives and emergency responders to work collaboratively on solutions that can be implemented to reduce the risks for personnel working on the roadways."

Barickman said Brown's and Kohlmeier's deaths were not isolated incidents.

"There have been too many cases where police, firefighters and others have been injured or killed while performing their duties on interstates and state highways," he said.

The bill was introduced March 21 and assigned to the Transportation Committee, where it awaits a vote.

Copyright 2014 - The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill.