County City Squabble Ends Fire Based Paramedic Service in Stockton

A four year battle with between the City of Stockton and San Joaquin County over EMS has resulted in the Stockton Fire Department having to discontinue paramedic level services that have been provided for over three decades. This case is one of several in California involving a dispute between counties and local government over EMS delivery by firefighters.

State law grants the authority to coordinate EMS services to the county, but provides that fire departments that provided a service dating back to June 1, 1980 were grandfathered. For those who have a copy of Fire Officer’s Legal Handbook, see the case in Chapter 3 of County of San Bernadino v. City of San Bernadino,  15 Cal. 4th 909, 938 P2d 876, (1997).