Goshen, NY
Sheriff Arteta proudly announces that the Orange County Sheriff’s Office has received the approval for the Basic Life Support—First Response (BLSFR) agency code from the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma System (BEMSATS). This achievement is the biggest milestone in implementing the Orange County Sheriff’s Office’s new “FLY-Car” program, which is anticipated to go live in July 2025. The “FLY-Car” program intends to provide basic life support care to Orange County. The “FLY-Car” will mainly cover jurisdictions falling below a 10-minute dispatch time frame.
The “FLY-Car” will be assigned daily to a deputy who is trained and certified as a New York State Emergency Medical Technician. Deputies will respond to emergency medical calls and be the initial response to stabilize the patient and transfer care to a transport agency, significantly increasing patient survivability and lowering the severity of lasting injury. The commission of this program required the Sheriff’s Office to apply and be issued a New York State Basic Life Support-First Responder Agency Code.
The Sheriff’s Office began obtaining the BLSFR in March of 2023. The process included submitting proof of program over-site by a Medical Director, documentation of EMT certifications, proof of intent to provide care, and designating a response vehicle(s), among other requirements. On April 22nd, 2025, The Sheriff was granted the agency code for BLSFR for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. This code signifies the agencies’ willingness to comply with all training, certifications, and protocols set forth by the State of New York Department of Health regarding patient care in an emergency setting.
The BLSFR is the result of a team of members’ hard work and dedication. Sheriff Arteta stated, “Obtaining this approval has been over a year of our team working hard to create a new set of policies and procedures, procuring a vehicle, and spending many hours planning, training, and coordinating. I am proud of their work and look forward to better serving Orange County by getting this program up and running”. The FLY-Car Program is run by 1st Sergeant Paul Brahm and Deputy Timothy Hluchan and overseen by Chief Meredith McGovern and Captain Dustin Palen.
