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HEATHER CASEY
Firehouse.Com
A Sarasota County paramedic and father of three died Tuesday, Sept. 12 after being shot in the head the night before during training for law enforcement certification.
Michael Yahraus was on a work assignment for the fire departament training to act as the swat team paramedic. Sarasota County Fire Chief Brian Gorski said the department considered it a Line-of-Duty Death.
Sarasota City police department SWAT team requirements demand the accompanying paramedic for the unit be a qualified law enforcement officer. Yahraus had asked for this assignment when it was advertised by the fire department, according to Gorski. Since he was on a fire department assignment, Gorski said, his death will be considered in the line of duty.
"He was training to become a medic on the SWAT team," said fire department PIO Michael Suarez. "He would have been called a SWAT medic employed by the fire department."
Yahraus, 32, was shot during a training session for a high-risk traffic stop. Apparently, Cpl. Al Doane fired a gun loaded with blanks, but filling from the barrel of the gun shot out instead.
Officials said the debris struck a windshield and then hit Yahraus in the head. He was transported to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg,
Yahraus leaves behind a wife, a daughter and two sons.
A memorial fund has been set up for the family:
- In care of Michael Yahraus
Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund
P.O. Box 147
Sarasota, FL 34230-147
Funeral services for Yahraus will be held Saturday, September
16th at the Robarts Sports Arena located at the 3000 block of
Fruitville Road, Sarasota Fl.
Services will begin at 10:00 am with procession to graveside following.
No visitation services will be held.
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