Clinton Township, MI — A public dispute is unfolding between Clinton Township Deputy Supervisor Dan O’Leary and the Clinton Township Fire Fighters Association Local 1381, with both sides accusing the other of spreading misinformation about how emergency medical services should be staffed in the township.
The clash began after O’Leary posted a lengthy statement on social media praising what he described as “innovative” changes in nearby Sterling Heights that rely more heavily on EMTs rather than paramedics for certain emergency responses.
O’Leary argued that many communities have relied on a “1970s model” of emergency response, where highly trained paramedics respond to nearly every call regardless of severity. He said that approach drives up costs and is not always necessary for routine calls.
According to O’Leary, better call categorization and sending basic life support teams with EMTs instead of advanced life support paramedics could allow departments to operate more efficiently while still protecting residents.
He also argued the approach could help departments recruit staff more easily and reduce costs for taxpayers.
But the Clinton Township firefighters union fired back sharply.
In a formal memo released publicly, Clinton Township Fire Fighters Association Local 1381 said O’Leary’s claims were inaccurate and accused him of misrepresenting how the township’s fire department actually operates.
The union stated that Clinton Township has provided Advanced Life Support (ALS) services since 2005, directly contradicting O’Leary’s claim that the department is still operating under a decades-old model.
According to the firefighters’ memo, the department currently handles around 7,000 calls for service each year, a number they say has more than doubled since ALS services were introduced.
Union officials also warned that reducing paramedic staffing in favor of EMT-only responses could lead to less medical care being available at emergency scenes, especially as private ambulance response times increase.
“Staffing fire companies with EMT’s instead of Paramedics is a direct reduction in medical care that can be provided in the field,” the union wrote.
The firefighters said having paramedics on scene allows crews to administer medications and perform advanced lifesaving procedures immediately while waiting for ambulance transport.
The memo also claims union leadership has already proposed several solutions to help recruit more firefighters and simplify hiring, but says those proposals have been met with resistance from township leadership.
The situation escalated further when the firefighters’ Facebook page posted the memo alongside a blunt accusation against O’Leary.
“Mr. O’Leary is not simply misinformed,” the post said. “He is intentionally lying to the people of Clinton Township and skewing talking points to push a political agenda.”
The firefighters also publicly thanked several township officials and State Representative Denise Mentzer for supporting the department.
The dispute now appears to be spilling into the political arena, as both sides attempt to frame the debate over cost, staffing levels, and emergency medical care in Clinton Township.
At the center of the controversy is a fundamental question facing many communities across the country: Whether emergency services should prioritize cost efficiency and staffing flexibility, or maintain fully paramedic-staffed responses to most calls.
For now, residents of Clinton Township are watching a very public disagreement between township leadership and the firefighters responsible for responding to emergencies in their community.
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