Should Towns Pay for Fire, First Aid to Expedite Response Times?

A northern New Jersey carjacking turned fatal in December 2013 has called into question the ability of volunteer emergency services, as a widow has filed suit against a trio of organizations, including a first aid squad.

Dustin Friedland, 30, a Hoboken attorney and Toms River native was shot in the head while two men attempted stealing his Range Rover SUV in the parking garage of The Mall at Short Hills.

The response time of the Millburn first aid squad was immediately called into question following the murder, with some reports stating it took first responders up to 30 minutes to get on scene.

Jamie Schare Friedland, who called 911 after her husband was shot, has filed suit against the mall’s ownership, the mall security’s organization, and the Millburn First Aid Squad citing wrongful death.

The Millburn First Aid Squad, like so many other first responder agencies in New Jersey, is volunteer-based. The squad’s president, H. Steven Roth, said that night’s on-duty chief arrived in her own vehicle 10 minutes after the call was made.

The lawsuit brings into question the need for staffed emergence responders versus those in a volunteer role for both first aid and fire departments. 

So, are paid services worth the money for potentially expedited response times? Should towns with volunteer emergency services put first aid and firefighters on payroll for potentially quicker response times?