About Ripon Guardian Ambulance
HISTORY
Ripon Guardian Ambulance Service (RGAS) is municipally owned and operated by the City of Ripon. Established in 1977 as an EMT-Basic ambulance service, we advanced to the Advanced EMT level in 1985. In 1990, we further enhanced our capabilities by adding defibrillator certification. On January 1, 2016, we reached a significant milestone by upgrading to a paramedic-level service—the highest level of pre-hospital care. This advancement was made possible through the generous support of the Ripon Medical Center Foundation, which provided funding for the training required to launch our paramedic program.
LEADERSHIP
Joe Erdmann led the department from its inception in 1977 until June 1984, when Bill Locke took over as EMS Chief. In June 1994, Lindabeth Angle assumed the role, followed by John Teachout, who was appointed EMS Chief in 2005 and served until his retirement in February 2021. Upon his retirement, Mitchell Matuszeski was hired as the current EMS Chief.
WHO WE SERVE
We proudly serve the City of Ripon, Town of Ripon, Town of Rosendale, Village of Rosendale, Village of Fairwater, Township of Nepeuskun, and the northern half of both the Townships of Metomen and Springvale. Our district spans approximately 162 square miles.
STAFFING
The City of Ripon employs two full-time paramedics, including the EMS Chief, who primarily works business hours Monday through Friday. A second full-time paramedic provides essential weekend coverage, working Saturdays and Sundays to ensure adequate staffing. The rest of our team consists of highly trained, dedicated part-time and paid-on-call professionals.
Our leadership includes two Assistant Chiefs: Ryan Huser, who oversees training, and Anthony Dash. Additionally, eight Lieutenants serve as key points of contact for crewmembers during evening and overnight shifts.
We offer a highly flexible scheduling system, allowing employees to choose when they are available for on-call shifts. This flexibility enables many of our team members—who have full-time jobs elsewhere—to balance their primary careers while still contributing to our EMS services.
OPERATIONS
Our primary ambulance, MED1, is staffed 24/7 with at least one paramedic and one EMT or AEMT.
On weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., MED1 is staffed with on-site personnel at the City Building, ensuring immediate response capabilities. During evening and overnight hours, the ambulance is staffed by paid-on-call employees. Those who live in or near the City of Ripon may respond to the station from home when a call is received.
We are dispatched by the Fond du Lac County Emergency Dispatch Center, with each ambulance equipped with a mobile data computer for receiving computer-aided dispatch information. Additionally, all report forms are completed electronically via a tablet in each ambulance.
RGAS operates with three fully equipped ALS ambulances and a medical response vehicle, allowing a paramedic to respond quickly and directly to the scene when needed.
APPARATUS
- 2014 Lifeline Ford E450 Ambulance
- 2018 Lifeline Ford E450 Ambulance
- 2022 Lifeline Ford E450 Ambulance
- 2022 Ford F150 SSV Medical Response Vehicle
MEDICAL DIRECTION
Our medical control doctor is Dr. Geiger who provides medical direction from SSM Ripon Community Hospital.
CALL VOLUME
We currently average about five ambulance calls per day. In 2024 we responded to 1,757 calls for service.
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