Wall Township Disbands EMS as Monmouth County Explores County-Wide Program
Wall Township shut down its police-run EMS division at midnight on Dec. 31. Twenty-nine workers lost their jobs. The program had operated since 1999.
Wall Township shut down its police-run EMS division at midnight on Dec. 31. Twenty-nine workers lost their jobs. The program had operated since 1999. Monmouth County's MedStar program stepped in to handle emergency medical calls starting Jan. 1.
The Wall Township Committee gave approval in December. Officials cited "economy and efficiency" as their reasoning. Rising costs pushed the decision. County resources offered more equipment and staff than the township could maintain on its own.
The division had answered over 53,000 calls since it began. Wall Police praised the departing team, calling them "the calm in the chaos" and "the steady hand for a neighbor in need."
MedStar runs the county's emergency medical response system. It has expanded since launch. The program brings upgraded ambulances, advanced life support units, and direct links to Monmouth County's dispatch network.
Local responders worry the centralized model will squeeze out municipal squads and volunteer groups. Several squads across Monmouth County have merged or closed in recent years. Rising costs, fewer volunteers, and competition from the county network have forced these changes.
"Once the county starts taking calls, the volunteers won't be able to compete," one veteran EMT from northern Ocean County said, according to Shore News Network. "It starts as 'backup coverage,' then slowly becomes the primary provider."
Sheriff Michael Mastronardy and the Ocean County Board of Commissioners are looking at creating a county-supported EMS program similar to MedStar. They want to fix volunteer shortages and slow response times in some areas. Summer months bring the biggest problems when visitors flood the shore.
County leaders insist they won't replace local squads. They want to fill gaps when volunteer or paid squads can't respond. A consulting study examined whether a regional structure could work, including county-owned ambulances and paid staff placed in busy zones.
The county opened an EMS Training Academy at the Fire and First Aid Training Center to train new EMTs. The COVID-19 pandemic made staffing worse, as many volunteers quit and recruiting new members became harder.
