DATE: September 20, 2025
SUBJECT: Title of News Release
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-NR-0920
CONTACT: Sheriff Noah Robinson
AUTHORITY: Sheriff Noah Robinson
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office has announced a new partnership with the Vanderburgh County Fire Department that will streamline DUI enforcement while reducing inconvenience for motorists.
Under a newly executed Memorandum of Understanding, certified paramedics with the Vanderburgh County Fire Department will be authorized to perform evidentiary blood draws in certain impaired driving investigations. The agreement allows deputies to request Fire Department assistance when a suspected impaired driver is not being transported to the Vanderburgh County Jail, or when Fire paramedics are already providing medical care at the scene and the collection of a blood sample will not interfere with treatment.
Sheriff Noah Robinson explained that the partnership will improve both efficiency and fairness. “This agreement ensures that impaired driving cases are handled promptly, safely, and in accordance with Indiana law, while also sparing motorists from unnecessary trips to the jail or hospital,” Robinson said. “By utilizing Fire Department paramedics who are already on scene, we can minimize delays and reduce disruption for drivers who are being tested under Indiana’s implied consent laws.”
The Sheriff’s Office emphasized that the new procedure does not change the legal standards for DUI investigations. Probable cause, consent, a warrant, or legally recognized exigent circumstances must still be established before any sample is collected.
What changes is the process; trained Fire Department paramedics can now perform the draw in a secure, sanitary environment, such as an ambulance, rather than requiring additional transport.
Fire Department leadership also noted that the agreement reflects a strong tradition of cooperation between county agencies. “This partnership highlights how public safety organizations can work together to provide better service for our community,” said Vanderburgh County Fire Department Chief Adam Farrar.
The agreement is effective immediately and is expected to improve enforcement, reduce case delays, and limit unnecessary inconvenience to motorists while upholding the highest standards of evidence collection.
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