Nov 10, 2016 3 min read

MONONGAHELA – City residents made passionate pleas to Monongahela Council on Wednesday for police officers to carry naloxone to counteract opiate overdoses.

Resident Anthony Necciai told Mayor Bob Kepics that police cars already carry and officers are trained to use automated external defibrillators and fire extinguishers and that naloxone should be added.

“Our fine officers are here to serve and protect. Why are they not carrying Narcan? What is the difference from saving a child jumping off a bridge or one with a needle in their arm?” Necciai asked.

Kepics, who oversees the police department, said the department isn’t mandated to carry the opiate antidote and said that there are many issues to consider. “I’ve talked to our officers and many of them aren’t sure they want to carry it. If you use it incorrectly, a person can stop breathing,” he said.

The state in 2014 gave police and first responders access to naloxone and allowed them to administer it to counteract overdoses. Many departments now carry it, but others do not.

Resident Kathy Guffey said it was the second anniversary the death of her nephew, Patrick, due to an overdose and naloxone could have saved him.

“The kits are free and the training is less than an hour. If you can save one person, it is worth it. You wouldn’t feel this way if it was your kid,” she said. Kepics reiterated his stance that the police department is not mandated to carry naloxone and that the ambulance service is better equipped to handle medical issues.

Resident Chad DeSantis said that not having the antidote available in the police department makes Kepics the judge, jury and executioner. “It is immoral not to carry Narcan,” said DeSantis.

Resident Stacy Dury said that naloxone saved her son.

Monongahela police Chief Brian Tempest said that the city has a chain of command, which he follows.

The department has 12 officers and Kepics said he has spoken personally to all of them. About eight officers don’t feel comfortable administering the antidote, he said. Kepics said that the issue was discussed during a previous work session and it is was agreed that the police would not carry naloxone.

Kepics said the Washington County sheriff’s department and police in Hanover Township, North Franklin Township and Belle Vernon do not carry naloxone.

“I am willing to revisit this issue and discuss it with the police department.” Kepics said. He added that the heroin overdose rate in the city has decreased drastically. “We have been working hard to get it off the street,” he said.

In other police news, Councilman Alan Veliky said that the police K-9 fund has been spent and the city needs donations for the care of police dog Beny.

On Monday, Beny, suffered a herniated disc and needed a life-saving surgery which cost about $6,000 , depleting the $4,000 in the fund and leaving it $2,000 short. Councilman Tom Caudill said that the city would cover the costs. Veliky added that that officer Larry Maraldo has been purchasing items out his own pocket for the K-9 officer.