The Town of Colonie Emergency Medical Services Department is pleased to announce that Assistant Chief Daniel W. Murdock has been selected by the New York State Department of Health Division of EMS and Trauma Systems to participate in their Mental Health Resilience Officer fellowship program. This selection marks a pivotal expansion of the department’s ongoing commitment to provider wellness and psychological safety.
“Our EMS personnel encounter difficult and often traumatic situations every day as they serve our residents in times of need. Understandably, such situations, over a period of time, can challenge the wellness of providers. I am pleased that our State’s Office of Mental Health is providing trauma informed care opportunities to EMS providers in order to encourage wellness and resiliency of our staff. I am pleased to authorize our Assistant Chief Daniel W. Murdock to participate in this program,” said Colonie Town Supervisor Peter G. Crummey.
The fellowship arrives as the Town of Colonie EMS is in its fourth consecutive year as a recipient of the CARESUP (Center for Advanced Research Excellence on Suicide Prevention) grant. Since 2022, the department has utilized CARES UP funding (provided by New York State Office of Mental Health’s Suicide Prevention Center) to establish a foundation for peer support and mental health awareness. This new fellowship will directly build upon that work, transitioning from establishing resources to institutionalizing a long-term culture of resilience.
With nearly two decades of experience in EMS, Assistant Chief Murdock was recently sworn into his current leadership role in March 2026. His selection for this fellowship underscores a commitment to addressing the high rates of stress, trauma, and burnout inherent in the EMS profession.
“Our mission is only as strong as the people behind it. By investing in resilience, we aren’t just improving our response today – we are ensuring our providers have the mental and emotional longevity to serve this community for an entire career,” said Murdock. “We often say our providers are our greatest asset, and we must protect their peace with the same rigor with which we protect their physical safety. This fellowship allows us to evolve the work we’ve done with CARESUP, moving beyond crisis response toward a future where resilience is woven into the very fabric of our department’s identity.”
Throughout the fellowship, Murdock will engage in intensive training focused on peer support development, crisis intervention, and the implementation of proactive mental health policies.
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About the Town of Colonie EMS Department:
The Colonie EMS Department is a municipal 911 emergency service agency dedicated to providing high-quality, paramedic-level emergency medical care and specialized rescue services. Serving a population of over 85,000 residents and visitors across the Town of Colonie, New York, the Department operates a fleet of 23 specialized vehicles across seven stations. In addition to handling over 15,000 calls for service annually, Colonie EMS is a New York State EMS Course Sponsor and an American Heart Association Training Center, offering critical safety and lifesaving education to both professionals and the local community.