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Officers Bonesteel and Coma Prevent Another Overdose In Downtown Seattle

Hours after U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy met with Seattle police on Tuesday to discuss the department’s life-saving Naloxone program, two downtown bike officers saved a man from a potentially fatal overdose outside a downtown store.

West Precinct Bike Officers Richard Bonesteel and James Coma were on patrol near 5th and Pine Street just before 11 PM when they found a man slumped against a store window. The man’s entire body was clenched, his breathing was shallow, and officers could see needle marks on his arms.

The officers gave the 27-year-old man a dose of nasal naloxone and he quickly regained consciousness.

The man declined further medical attention from medics and walked off under his own power.

This incident marks the 11th time officers have successfully used Naloxone since Seattle police began carrying it in mid-March. The case will become part of the ongoing study conducted by the University of Washington into SPD’s use of Naloxone for a possible department-wide deployment.

As a reminder, Washington  law provides immunity from criminal drug possession charges for anyone seeking medical aid for themselves or someone else experiencing an overdose.