Copy shortlink: The union that represents Hennepin County's paramedics, emergency medical technicians and emergency medical dispatchers accused Minneapolis officials of planning to use unarmed civilian personnel for certain mental health emergencies with little or no input from health care first responders. Sam Erickson, vice president of the Hennepin County Association of Paramedics and EMTs (HCAPE), said the union was not included in "any planning or coordination for the new civil response teams." He said it was also his understanding that the new teams are not "fully integrated into the 911 system," despite the "best effort" of Dr. Nick Simpson, chief medical director of Hennepin Healthcare Emergency Medical Services, to work with city officials.