03/27/98 - 09:00CST

CHICAGO (EmergencyNet News) - Clark Staten, Executive Director of the Emergency Response and Research Institute (ERRI) today announced the employment and appointment of James Denney to the position of ERRI Senior Analyst. Staten said that the appointment is effective as of April 1, 1998. Mr. Denney will also help organize the ERRI West Coast office.

According to Staten, Denney retired from the Los Angeles City fire department in 1997 with the rank of Captain. He is one of the nation's leading Fire/EMS experts regarding mass casualty management, large scale events, consequence management, gang-related incidents, emergency response to violence incidents and a number of other topics.

"Jim Denney has acquired a wealth of both knowledge and experience in one of the nation's leading emergency service agencies," Staten said.

"It goes without saying that Capt. Denney's participation in the South Central L.A. Riots, several earthquakes and a number of other incidents places him among an elite group of people who have had a close-up and real learning experience regarding the effects of large-scale incidents and how they will impact local emergency service agencies," he added.

"We are most pleased to welcome Jim Denney to our organization, and believe that his unique qualities and capabilities will greatly enhance our consulting, management, and training/educational offerings," Staten concluded.

Jim Denney began his public service career in 1964 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Seabee's where he served two tours of duty in Vietnam. Following his discharge he continued his public service with the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department and as an EMT for Goodhew Ambulance Company in Los Angeles, California. In 1973, he joined the Los Angeles City Fire Department. In 1974, he became a paramedic and progressed through the ranks to EMS District Commander and Department Paramedic Coordinator.

He is a noted author, lecturer and subject matter expert on issues pretaining to prehospital care. Throughout his career, Jim has served as the chair of the Civil Disturbance Committee and as a member of the Disaster Preparedness Committee, California State Firefighters Association EMS Committee and past member of the California Gang Ivestigators Association. He was the EMS Legislative Lobbyist for the City of Los Angeles. He is an adjunct faculty member of the Loma Linda University EMC program and is a past member of the San Antonio Community College Paramedic School Advisory Board.

Jim has served as a member of the California Fire Chiefs EMS Committee, L.A. County Providers Association and the L.A. County Department of Health Services Prehospital Care Committee. In 1997, Jim completed his career with the Fire Department as the EMS Bureau/Human Resources Staff Officer. Continuing his public service, Jim received an appointment in 1997, to the Department of Defense, Defense Science Board, as a member of the Civil Integration and Response Panel on Transnational Threats.