By City News Service
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Dodgers announced today the team has broken off contract talks with the Los Angeles Fire Department for the city to continue providing ambulance service at home games, and a private ambulance company would work at the stadium beginning with the team's next homestand.
The team and the LAFD have been working on a draft agreement, but it repeatedly ran into hurdles at City Hall. City fire commissioners last week criticized the arrangement, saying it required a shift of some on-duty personnel due to a shortage of off-duty volunteers -- paid by the Dodgers -- to work the games. The shifting of personnel, led to increased costs for the department, commissioners contended.
The team and LAFD "were looking to create a partnership which would provide emergency medical services to our fans at Dodger Stadium at no cost to the city or to the taxpayers. Based on information that we have recently received from the LAFD, it appears that our objectives are not attainable,'' according to a statement from the Dodgers.
"Therefore, we will again contract with a private ambulance company to provide the same high level of emergency medical services that Dodger fans have received throughout the history of Dodger Stadium,'' according to the team. LAFD officials had no immediate response to the team's announcement.
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