Dallas officer: Firefighters, paramedics 'didn't get enough credit' for bravery in face of ambush

DALLAS — The July 7 ambush shooting of Dallas police officers was the worst attack on first responders since 9/11.

While much of the public attention after the shooting emphasized the sacrifice of law enforcement officials, at least one member of the Dallas Police Department insisted that paramedics and firefighters showed just as much courage under fire while trying to reach wounded officers.

"Fire did not get enough credit,” wrote one officer on his Facebook page after the shooting. “They were moving with us in ambulances toward Market Street toward the gunfire. Every single time we told them to get out of the shooting zone, the driver would keep yelling, ‘Just tell us where they are,’ referring to our downed officers.”

No firefighters were injured on July 7, but Dallas Fire-Rescue officials want to make sure that their personnel are adequately protected and trained for future active-shooter scenarios.

"Police officers go in there to take out the shooter, but there are multiple victims lying there still, in what we call the ‘warm zone,’” Jim McDade, president of the Dallas Firefighter Association said. “What do we do to react to that?”

The department received 21 body armor kits last week, which each include a bullet-proof vest and tactical helmets. The gear will be worn by medics and firefighters who enter the scene of an active shooter situation, but only after police have determined that it is safe for medical personnel to begin extricating patients.

WFAA 8 reports that the new gear has already been used at a protest that took place last Friday in downtown Dallas.

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