Novato Officer Saves Overdosing Man's Life

NOVATO, CA – A man is alive after an opioid overdose, thanks to the quick thinking and recent training of an officer from the Novato Police Department.

Novato fire and police personnel responded to a 911 call of a possible overdose around 9:20 p.m. Sunday. The caller reported her friend suffering from life threatening symptoms, according to police.

"It became immediately apparent the patient was in need of immediate lifesaving measures," police said in a statement.

Officer James Rinkor gave the 63-year-old man a dose of Naloxone, a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose, and monitored him until fire personnel secured the man on a gurney, according to police. The man regained consciousness and was transported to a local hospital, where he is still recovering.

The man had overdosed on fentanyl, a drug that's causing many reported overdoses, Novato police Capt. Matthew McCaffrey said.

"This is a nationwide epidemic, and it's starting to trickle into Marin County," McCaffrey said.

Novato police received training on the use and administration of Naloxone from the Marin Department of Public Health in June. The drug is now in every patrol vehicle in case of an emergency, police said.

"This is the first save we've had of this in the county," McCaffrey said. "We're happy we were able to do that."

Dr. Matt Willis, the county's public health officer, said there's a "narrow window of time" to save the life of someone overdosing on opioids.

"The opioid epidemic is hurting all of our communities and our police officers have really stepped up to join the fight," Willis said. "We're really fortunate that our police officers are trained and equipped, and they're out there saving lives."

Photo courtesy of Will County