In the early morning hours of January 26, a total of 21 calls were made in a matter of minutes to the Amarillo Emergency Communications Center (AECC), which handles all 911 calls within the City of Amarillo.
Something was wrong. And Amarillo needed help.
“There are many entities and individuals that respond in times of emergency in Amarillo – from police, law enforcement and fire personnel to the doctors and staff at our local hospitals,” said Max Dunlap, Director of Emergency Management for the Amarillo Area Office of Emergency Management. “The cohesion, communication and cooperation between all of these agencies, groups and people help keep Amarillo a safe community.”
The tragic event of January 26 is an example of how Amarillo responds in times of crisis.
Around 2 a.m. on January 26, a fatal shooting occurred in downtown Amarillo outside a nightclub on Polk Street. One person was killed and eight were injured. Two suspects, who were apprehended shortly after leaving the shooting location, were indicted for the shooting in Potter County earlier this month.
The flurry of 911 calls was the first step in the response process as multiple agencies and entities were involved.
- Amarillo Police Department (APD): A total of 24 APD patrol officers responded to the scene, the arrest location and at local hospitals. Additional investigators also responded: Seven detective sergeants, seven crime scene investigators, two forensic technicians and three investigators from the 47th District Attorney’s Office.
- Amarillo Fire Department (AFD): A total of 12 members of AFD responded to the shooting, helping with patient triage, assessment and loading patients. (Some members of AFD rode with shooting victims in ambulances.) AFD provided manpower, advanced life support (ALS) and basic life support (BLS).
- Amarillo Medical Services (AMS): AMS’s initial ambulance crew and a supervisor arrived on scene within 10 minutes. In total, five AMS ambulances and a supervisor unit were assigned to the incident. Four ambulances treated and transported individuals who sustained injuries. Less than 40 minutes passed between the time the first ambulance was dispatched to the 911 call to the time the last patient arrived at a hospital.
- Randall County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO): RSCO telecommunicators received calls regarding a shooting in downtown Amarillo. Deputies were informed that the suspects were driving south into Randall County. They located the suspects and conducted a high-risk felony stop at Hillside Road and Bell Street. Three subjects were detained, and the scene was turned over to the APD. Two of the subjects were turned over to theAPD and subsequently booked into the Potter County Jail, while the third was arrested by RCSO deputies and booked into the Randall County Jail for public intoxication.
- Northwest Texas Healthcare System (NWTHS): Six shooting victims received medical care at NWTHS. Numerous NWTHS team members helped treat the victims, including nurses, physicians, surgical services personnel, respiratory therapists, laboratory technologists and imaging specialists and business office personnel.
- BSA Health System (BSA): Shooting victims were also treated and received medical care at BSA. “Working alongside the Amarillo Police Department, law enforcement agencies and emergency first responders across our city, BSA stood in support of our community, providing critical care to those in need,” said Katrina Tokar, Chief Nursing Officer of BSA Health System. “The strength of our community lies in coming together, and we are grateful for everyone who stepped up during this time.”
The response by law enforcement and emergency personnel is an example of how several entities with distinct and valuable responsibilities and skills work together to keep the Amarillo community safe.
For more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at 806-378-5219 or by email at david.henry@amarillo.gov
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