Non-profit Texas Rescue Patrol provides life-saving help; looking for assistance from county

The Texas Rescue Patrol provides life-saving assistance to those in-need near Red Sands.

“We are not law enforcement,” Jamil Moutran, Texas Rescue Patrol founder, said. “We are not here to stop people or prevent them from enjoying the outdoor recreational activities. We are here to be there in that situation where they get hurt and need help and that’s what we are here for.”

The nonprofit works with local fire departments and law enforcement agencies when responding to events.

The non-profit patrol has 25 members, nine of whom are state-licensed EMTs or Paramedics. They patrol 16 hours a day and since January they have responded to 206 calls. “Out of those calls, 99 were considered emergency calls, that could be accidents or someone reporting the discharge of weapons near them,” Moutran said.

The patrol also watches for illegal dumping and shooting in the desert area.

The service costs thousands of dollars a month, which is funded by Moutran’s ATV tour guide business. “It does get expensive,” Moutran said. “The overhead with fuel, medical supplies, the vehicles, insurance and all that comes into play.” That’s why Mountran is reaching out to the county. “If we could get any type of assistance, whether that be through equipment or surplus equipment, used equipment or a gas card; anything helps,” Moutran said. Moutran told ABC-7 they are in need of trucks to provide aid to incidents with multiple victims.

ABC-7 spoke with County Commissioner Vince Perez about the nonprofit. “I think as we approach the budget season, this is one organization I think the county should look at to see if there a funding arrangement that we can agree on,” Perez said.

The budget needs to be finalized in September.

Perez said the services are very important to the county. “They provide many emergency relief services that currently the Sheriff’s Department does not have the equipment to access these very difficult areas,” Perez said. “I think the services they are providing are very critical to provide the unique needs for a growing county where you have a large swath of unincorporated area.”

Moutran said he would like to expand their services across the county, but it won’t be possible without the help from the county. “We’ve got 25 individuals that are ready to get out there and serve the community and provide the service,” Moutran said.

“I think that this is a tremendous public services being done through that organization and I would like to see a partnership we can achieve to further their mission moving forward,” Perez said.