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Rapid Response: EMT/firefighter murdered in broad daylight

Violent actions against emergency responders are common, but what does it mean when the violence is random and public

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A firefighter puts his head in his hands as he and other firefighters sit on the curb. Dennis Rodeman, a 35-year-old Lansing firefighter has died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver as he collected money for charity.

Dave Wasinger/Lansing State Journal via AP

What happened: Wednesday afternoon Lansing Mich. Firefighter/EMT Dennis Rodeman was struck by a pickup truck while he was collecting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Rodeman later died of his injuries. Police believe the attack was deliberate. The suspect, Grant Taylor, 22 is alleged to have had an altercation or argument with Rodeman and circled back to hit Rodeman.

Why it’s significant: Emergency responders, including EMTs, paramedics and firefighters, regularly come into contact with violence, but usually in the course of responding to an incident. For example, earlier this week a Milwaukee firefighter was punched in the face while responding to a medical emergency. Also this week a Detroit medic was punched in the face and a Texas fire chief was stabbed while looking for a missing patient.

Rodeman, on the other hand, was participating in a broad daylight and very public event to raise money for a well-respected charity.

Top takeaways: The death of FF/EMT Rodeman is the first fatality in the 61-year history of the MDA and IAFF Fill the Boot collaboration. But it comes at a time of growing (or at least perceived) distrust for emergency responders, especially police officers, from the public they serve.

As I reflect on the Rodeman’s murder these are my top takeaways:

1. Remember and honor

While I seek to understand this senseless tragedy and any larger meaning I want to remember and honor the service of Rodeman. He was a U.S. Marine and served in Iraq.

2. Disengage and diffuse

Emergency responders frequently encounter people who are violent and confrontational with aspirations that might range from YouTube stardom to lethal harm. Regardless of the cause – criminal intent, drug or alcohol intoxication, brain injury or simply itching for a fight – we need to do our best to disengage from violent patients and diffuse threatening bystanders.

3. Highly visible as a helper

EMTs and medics need to be highly visible helpers and caregivers. Several Denver-area fire departments, after threats were made by an anonymous call to a 911 center, have ordered personnel to wear uniform shirts that clearly differentiate them from police officers. Aurora firefighters have been told to wear t-shirts instead of blue collared shirts with badges. Our uniforms and our actions need to constantly remind the public that are intent is help and service.

What’s next: Learning Taylor’s motive for killing Rodeman will not change the outcome of this tragedy. Nor will the crime dissuade us from serving our communities, both at their times of greatest need or suffering or by going above and beyond to support important charitable organizations, like the MDA.

Further reading and viewing:

Greg Friese, MS, NRP, is the Lexipol Editorial Director, leading the efforts of the editorial team on Police1, FireRescue1, Corrections1 and EMS1. Greg served as the EMS1 editor-in-chief for five years. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree from the University of Idaho. He is an educator, author, national registry paramedic since 2005, and a long-distance runner. Greg was a 2010 recipient of the EMS 10 Award for innovation. He is also a three-time Jesse H. Neal award winner, the most prestigious award in specialized journalism, and the 2018 and 2020 Eddie Award winner for best Column/Blog. Connect with Greg on LinkedIn.