PFLUGERVILLE, Texas — The City of Pflugerville has recently hired a well-known figure as its new emergency services director.
According to KVUE's media partners at the Austin-American Statesman, former Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon is stepping into a new role overseeing the private ambulance company, Allegiance Mobile Health, which has provided EMS services to Pflugerville since July 2022.
Chacon started the new position on Dec. 20, 2023, and he will help the city with emergency planning and natural disaster preparedness. Chacon also hopes to create a stronger relationship with the Pflugerville Fire Department, the Statesman reports.
Travis County Emergency Services District (ESD) No. 2 used to provide EMS services to Pflugerville. Then in November 2021, voters rejected having an ESD No. 17 handle ambulance calls in the ESD No. 2 service area – so Acadian Ambulance Services was hired instead.
The contract with Acadian was ended after only two months. In May 2022, the city council voted to begin negotiations with ESD No. 2 again. Later that month, the city also opened negotiations with Allegiance and the company was ultimately hired.
In September 2023, the Pflugerville City Council approved an agreement for the City of Austin to oversee Allegiance until September 2024. However, Chacon started the role at the end of 2023, eliminating the need for that agreement.
The City of Pflugerville's contract with Allegiance expires at the end of June, and it is not yet determined whether the partnership will be renewed.
Last year, an Allegiance paramedic was accused of causing the death of a 42-year old man in January 2023 after an unneeded incision called a cricothyroidotomy. The man received a nerve-blocking agent that ultimately caused heart issues and death.
Chacon served as Austin's police chief starting in 2020, as much of the city and country were involved in social justice protests. Chacon announced his retirement in August 2023. Interim Chief Robin Henderson, who previously served as Chacon's chief of staff, has been heading the police department since.
Now as Pflugerville's EMS director, Chacon's employment is dependent on overall performance, not a contract. His salary has not yet been released to the public.
To learn more, read the Statesman's full report.