Camden names Zaller county's first-ever EMS director

CAMDEN — A former Currituck Fire and EMS captain has been named Camden County’s first-ever emergency medical services director.

Joseph Zaller started last week as director of Camden’s new standalone EMS department. He will paid $71,621 annually.

“I am honored to take on this new role and look forward to working with Camden County’s dedicated team and partners,” Zaller said in a Camden news release. “Together, we will create a superior EMS department delivering the highest quality of care to the residents and visitors we serve.”

Camden has allocated nearly $200,000 in its current fiscal budget for the director’s salary and to purchase basic office supplies, Camden Manger Erin Burke said previously. Additional costs toward the new EMS system will be appropriated in next year’s budget that takes effect on July 1.

Burke said Monday that the new EMS department is expected to be up and running within the next year.

Zaller, whose career spans more than 20 years, brings an array of experience to his new role.

While at Currituck Fire and EMS, Zaller worked in operational and administrative roles, including training officer and shift captain.

Zaller’s career in rescue services began in Buffalo, New York, before he joined the U.S. Navy to serve as an aviation corpsman. After completing his Navy service, Zaller was named deputy chief of Gates County Rescue and EMS, according to Camden’s release.

Zaller also serves as an adjunct instructor at College of The Albemarle and is credentialed as a Paramedic Level I instructor, according to Camden.

Several comments congratulating Zaller’s selection as Camden’s new EMS director were posted at the Facebook page of Currituck County Department of Fire and EMS.

“Congratulations Captain, well deserved. You will make an awesome director. We will miss you on D shift,” wrote one colleague.

“Wishing you all the best in your new adventure,” wrote another person.

In December 2023, Camden officials made a commitment to creating its own EMS department when commissioners voted to spend $857,000 to purchase three ambulances. The county used a $900,000 grant it received to create its own EMS department to pay for the ambulances.

Camden purchased the ambulances from Florida-based Atlantic Emergency Solutions and part of the sales agreement has the company installing the vehicles’ stretcher systems.

Camden currently participates in a joint EMS arrangement with Pasquotank County but it had hoped to cut its ties with Pasquotank by July 1.

In May, the Pasquotank commissioners approved a one-year extension to the county’s current EMS contract with Camden. The contract is set to expire on Sunday. The extension will cover the fiscal year 2024-25 and cost Camden $710,265, which is a 9.5% increase from the current annual cost of $648,645.

The extension was necessary after Camden was unable to hire an EMS director in enough time ahead of Sunday’s deadline. Last year, an initial round of interviews yielded two potential candidates. An offer was extended to both candidates and each declined, Camden County Manager Erin Burke said in March.