Bicycle officers once again were able to use their department-issued Naloxone to reverse the effects of a potentially fatal drug overdose.
On July 6th, just before 4:30 pm, West Precinct bicycle officers Canek Gordillo and Erik Eastgard were dispatched to a reported drug overdose in Freeway Park. Officers arrived and located an unresponsive man lying near a walkway inside the park with drug paraphernalia nearby. Seattle Fire paramedics were also on the scene as one officer administered the Naloxone while paramedics began CPR on the 47-year-old man. Shortly after the naloxone dose was administered a pulse was detected, and the man began breathing again on his own. A few minutes after that the man opened his eyes and sat up.
He was transported to a nearby hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
This incident marks the 20th time officers have used Naloxone since Seattle police began carrying it in mid-March 2016. 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.
