Captain Leo Lloyd – DFPD Obituary
by MichaelKrupa | Aug 17, 2022
Captain Leo Lloyd
Leo Lloyd had many titles: Dad, husband, brother, son, mentor, Captain, firefighter, instructor, nurse and paramedic. We are attempting to capture his work history synopsis, while leaving the personal roles for his family to document. The attached is his work and employment history specific to the EMS, Search and Rescue, Fire Department and rope rescue work he did. While not being all inclusive, this hits the high points and larger agency interactions he took on.
Not only was Leo Lloyd III active in multiple responder roles dating back to the early 1980’s, he was also instrumental in helping develop multiple new programs and organizations, while passionately training and mentoring hundreds of others throughout his career.
After growing up in Montana, Leo moved to Durango to attend Fort Lewis College in 1980. His grandfather, Leo Lloyd I, was a general surgeon at the old Mercy Hospital, and the family had frequently visited Durango, which later drew Leo to the town and the San Juan Mountains. He joined the newly-formed La Plata County Search and Rescue as an FLC student, and actively recruited other students. His passion for conducting and training technical rope rescue only accelerated from that point on. In 1985, Leo started working for the hospital-based Mercy Ambulance as an EMT, then attended the Swedish Paramedic Program in Englewood, Colorado in 1988. While at Mercy, Leo started the Mountain Response Team (MRT) which creatively embedded paramedics into backcountry rescue missions, predating the helicopter EMS programs of today. He also flew with Mercy Air Care as a fixed-wing flight medic, igniting his passion for flight medicine.
In 1992, San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington started the first helicopter flight program in the region and Leo jumped at the chance to be part of the new SJRMC Air Care. In 1995, while working as a flight medic, Leo completed nursing school, further advancing his critical care skills. In 2000, he transitioned to the new Animas Surgical Center on Main Avenue, again a developing new upstart organization, where he gained experience in post-surgical care.
In 2002, three fire departments and the Mercy Paramedics consolidated into the Durango Fire and Rescue Authority, which later became the Durango Fire Protection District. Leo was once again recruited to help develop a new program and was the original C Shift EMS Captain. He quickly established solid firefighting skills which became the new standard for all front-line staff. During his time at DFPD, Leo additionally served as EMS Training Captain, and led the Tech Rescue Team. In 2018, Leo saw another need and offered to help train and mentor new EMTs and paramedics with the new Interfacility Program where he served as IFT EMS Captain.
While full-time at DFPD, Leo was also an instructor with Rigging for Rescue for two decades, teaching tech rescue for numerous organizations around the U.S. and internationally. In 2017, he accepted an offer to help train Nepali high-altitude Sherpas at the Khumbu Climbing Center and spend a cold winter month in Phortse, Nepal helping them gain valuable technical skills. He also recently completed two climbing ranger rotations on Denali, in Alaska, performing high-altitude rescues on both tours. In his spare time… Leo worked for Silverton EMS and was active on San Juan County’s SAR through that program. Days before he died, Leo did his last SAR mission, climbing all three Trinity Peaks as part of a search.
On behalf of the Durango Fire Protection District, we offer our condolences to all who knew Leo, were trained by him, or impacted in their careers. His focus on education and training will leave a legacy in the Fire, EMS, S&R and Rope Rescue worlds.