Cop Leaves Drug Overdose Training to Save Man From Drug Overdose

Morristown Police Officer James Green put his training into use Thursday, and it saved a man’s life.

The officer was working his regular schedule but took part in a training class on the use of NARCAN, an anti-heroin and opiate drug administered to substance users who may have overdosed.

When Green’s training class was wrapping up around 10 a.m., he was dispatched to a call for a reported cardiac arrest from a probable drug overdose at 126 Speedwell Avenue, Lt. Stuart Greer said.

Green dashed to the location and learned Morris Township Police Officer Robert Hydock was also en route with a NARCAN kit in his vehicle, Greer said. Both officers arrived on scene and found a Morristown resident, age 53, was in respiratory arrest and appeared to have taken an overdose of heroin, Greer said.

Hydock assembled the NARCAN kit and gave it to Green for administration to the Morristown man, Greer said. Because of the NARCAN, the man regained his breathing efforts and was fully conscious by the time he was placed into an ambulance.

In a joint statement, Morristown Police Chief Peter Demnitz and Morris Township Police Chief John McGuinness said, “We are extremely proud of the efforts of our police officers and thankful to the Atlantic Health System for providing this valuable training to agencies around Morris County.”

Pictured: Officers Green and Hydock. Photo Courtesy Morristown Police Department.