While Sheriff Gardner wasn't on the department when Rescue57 started, he has always been a strong supporter of the program. One paramedic who promoted out of the unit was "forced" by then Capt Gardner to keep his certification up to date.....by forced I mean Gardner made sure he had the time off to get re-certed each year.

Gardner is pretty much allowed to do whatever he wants with his budge after it is approved by law since he is an elected official. HE said from the start that he would continue R-57, I believe he stated "by hook or by crook".

I taught CPR with then DEPUTY Gardner back in the 1980's-------as far as I know he is still an instructor...

I manned R-57 for a few years

Area Ambulance doesn't respond to Prairieburg, Coggon, Walker , Center Point, Mt Vernon or Central City.......those areas are just as much a part of Linn County as Fairfax , Cedar Rapids and Marion. They deserve the same level of care as "The Big Boys" The smaller towns that provide Paramedics do so on a volunteer basis not a paid basis such as CR, Marion or Hiawatha.

The smaller communities don't have the resources to staff their ambulances 24/7/365 with BASIC EMT's much less paramedics. There are also times when one unit is out on a call and the second unit can't be staffed.

R-57 is not nor has it ever been a transport service. The paramedic rides with the basic ambulance service if advanced care is needed. Should an ambulance with a paramedic respond----the Rescue 57 paramedic who was on the scene turns over care to that service and is then available for other calls.

R-57 will most likely continue. I have no doubt Sheriff Gardner will find a way to continue this service........he has always been extremely supportive of the service even when he was just a deputy.

Rescue also provides cliff rescue capability at Palisades Park................river rescue on both rivers running thru the county............and confined spaces rescue resources.......................There are MANY other items they provide that the small FD's and ambulance services do not have

There are many times and places in Linn County where there is not a paramedic on duty 24/7/365. I am a former deputy sheriff/paramedic who worked Rescue 57. You really don't want to loose this service