Politics & Government
7 Years After He Nearly Died From An Overdose, Ocean Co. Man Thanks Police Who Saved Him
Dale Dexter was barely alive when Manchester police found him after an overdose. Nearly 7 years later, his life has changed for the better.
MANCHESTER, NJ — On Feb. 10, 2016, Dale Dexter nearly died. On Wednesday, he went to Manchester Township Police headquarters to thank the men who saved his life and gave him the opportunity to change his life for good.
On that winter day in 2016, Dexter had been found unconscious and was barely breathing when two Manchester police officers, Michael Guarino and Jason Wiener, responded to the 6:29 a.m. call.
Dexter's pulse was very slow, and his breathing was shallow — the result of a heroin overdose —, so the officers administered naloxone and began other lifesaving measures until Manchester First Aid Squad 29 and paramedics arrived and took over, with Dexter ultimately surviving.
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Dexter came into headquarters to personally thank Guarino, who has since been promoted from patrolman to detective, and Wiener, shaking their hands and expressing his gratitude for their efforts to help save his life, Capt. Vincent Manco said.
"Without these two gentlemen, I would not be standing here today and my life would not be as amazing as it is today. It helped me change my life and I couldn’t be more grateful to them," Dexter said.
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Dexter told Guarino and Wiener and other members of the Manchester Police Department that Feb. 10, 2016, was a turning point in his life, Manco said.
Dexter said he has been clean for more than five years, and now is a volunteer with Hope Sheds Light, a Toms River organization that works to help people break the cycle of addiction. Dexter is a certified peer recovery specialist.
He told the officers that one of his life’s goals is to help as many people as he can, and to give back to the community from which he admitted he had taken from for many years, Manco said. Dexter's work with Hope Sheds Light is part of his efforts to give back.
"The Manchester Police Department thanks Mr. Dexter for taking to time to acknowledge the officers for their distinguished efforts and wish him the best in the future," Manco said.
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