February 1, 2001

New full-time Lieutenant hired

       Following a state-wide hiring process, the White River Twp Fire Protection District recently hired its 8th full-time employee.  Joe Settles took the position of Lieutenant/Paramedic at an induction ceremony held at this years Award's Banquet. Joe will head up the department's Special Operations Division and has been assigned to C-shift under Battalion Chief Scott Cassin. 

    Lieutenant Joe Settles' interest in the rescue services began during his senior year of high school when he joined the department's Cadet Program in 1989.  After graduation, his educational path continued both traditionally and vocationally. 

        He attended Purdue University and also became a compensated employee of the department.  The reasons were twofold.  First was the ability to supplement the cost of college.  Second was the need to satisfy his desire to learn as much as possible about all aspects of rescue services.

        Prior to graduation, he obtained the opportunity to work as an EMT with Wishard Ambulance Service, which provides EMS transportation for a large area including downtown Indianapolis.  Requiring greater education, Joe naturally enrolled in a Paramedic program which he successfully completed.  Joe has now been a Paramedic for over five years. 

        Continuing education is important to those in the rescue services.  In addition to numerous certificates of training, Joe has received master certifications in Instruction, Tactics, Management, Investigations, and Hazardous Materials.   

        Rigging for rescue is a discipline which hold a particular interest to him.  Having attended several in depth classes on the subject from leaders in the rigging field, Joe is able to re-deliver this information to his colleagues.

        In addition to this training, Joe has completed and aided in the instruction of the Basic Emergency Rescue Technician (BERT) confined space rescue, auto extrication, trench and collapse, intermediate swift water rescue, and hazardous materials technician classes.

        In his job as Special Operations Lieutenant, Joe is responsible for developing training programs and instructing hazardous materials, water rescue, auto extrication, trench and collapse, and rigging related rescue operations to the members of the department.  Joe is also heavily involved in helping to prepare an annual budget for those areas.  He also serves in the capacity of line officer on both engine and rescue companies.

        In 1999, Joe began new endeavors in regards to rescue services in his position as a SWAT Paramedic with the  Indianapolis Police Department.  He and five other Paramedics, in a joint operation with Indianapolis Police Department, Indianapolis Fire Department, and Wishard Ambulance Service provide preventative medical and tactical medical intervention in all areas of the SWAT agenda.  He recently attended a basic SWAT school, CONTOMS, and several other specialized training programs.

     We welcome Lieutenant Settles and wish him luck in his future endeavors with the department.
 

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