PORT ANGELES — Dr. Arthur Tordini, an Olympic Medical Center emergency physician, was sworn in Friday as a reserve deputy with the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
Tordini will serve as a volunteer, unpaid medic on the office’s tactical team.
“I’ve been here for 28 years,” Tordini said.
“It’s my opportunity to give something back to the community.”
He is one of only a few physicians in the state who have been deputized, said Sheriff Bill Benedict.
“I’m delighted that he would go through the training on his own time to become a deputy,” Benedict said.
“He’s a very valuable asset if we should have a horrible situation where we need to have medical care for people.”
His responsibilities include providing medical care to wounded officers and suspects during “critical incidents,” such as the serving of high-risk warrants and responding to barricaded suspects, Benedict said.
Utilize unique training
“It is the goal of the Sheriff’s Office to utilize Dr. Tordini’s unique training to help preserve life by providing emergency medical care immediately to downed officers, citizens and suspects during these high-risk missions or events,” he said.
Tordini has worked for OMC since 1986 and is a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians’ Tactical Emergency Medicine Section.
He has previously served as chairman of the emergency medicine and critical-care committees.
“Dr. Tordini’s seasoned emergency medicine skills and proven ability to quickly and accurately assess life-threatening scenarios in the emergency department help qualify him for this special role,” said Dr. Scott Kennedy, OMC’s chief medical officer.
“Art understands deep commitment to a talented team for executing precision work and will offer unique capability for complex emergency rescues.”
