Russell County EMS Director Charles Shepherd is preparing to close another chapter in a career of service spanning more than three decades.
As WJRS NEWS reported Wednesday, Shepherd has announced he will retire in mid-January. He explains why he gave the EMS Board more than three months’ notice.
Shepherd began working at Russell County EMS in 1989 as a driver. He earned his EMT certification in 1990 and became a paramedic the following year.
After serving several years as assistant director, Shepherd retired in 2013. He returned to the ambulance service as a paramedic in 2020.
In 2024, Shepherd was asked to take over as director. What he initially agreed would be a few months has become more than two years. Shepherd says serving Russell County has been a blessing.
With more than 30 years of experience, training and knowledge, Shepherd has witnessed considerable changes in emergency medical care. We asked him how the profession has evolved during his career.
We also asked Shepherd what he would like the community to understand about the work EMTs and paramedics do every shift.
Shepherd says change is constant. One program on the horizon would involve a paramedic making home visits to check on patients recently transported by EMS or released from the local hospital.
He says cultural changes also present challenges, and finances remain an ongoing concern. Shepherd describes the ambulance service as being in pretty good financial shape, while remaining dependent on tax revenue and insurance payments.
Shepherd thanked the community, the EMS Board, the county judge-executive and magistrates, and EMS personnel for their support. He encourages everyone to continue that support as the ambulance service transitions to its next director.