District Attorney Staff Save Woman Overdosing In Poughkeepsie

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Mandatory workplace training on how to use Narcan to reverse an opioid overdose proved to be a life-saver this week.

Staff at the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office helped save a woman who was overdosing on Wednesday.

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Two office crime analysts, Heather Palazzo and Kristina Crespo, discovered the victim in a parking deck stairwell, according to office leadership.

Palazzo began assessing the woman's vital signs and administering life-saving aid, while Crespo called 911 and notified investigators from the District Attorney's Office.

Members of the office's Investigations Unit rushed to the scene with Narcan, which is used to reverse opioid overdoses. Investigator Kristoffer Adams then administered two doses, office officials said.

Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi said Thursday he is "immensely proud" of everyone involved.

"Heather Palazzo and Kristina Crespo responded with remarkable courage and presence of mind, and the swift response of our Investigations Unit helped save a woman's life," Parisi said. "This incident also underscores why preparedness and training are so important."

Parisi had previously decided all staff members needed Narcan training.

At his direction, in May 2024, office staff took mandatory Narcan training, provided by the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health. Narcan was made available to every member of the office and on every floor of the building, according to Parisi.

"The actions taken during the October 21 incident demonstrate how proactive preparation, access to life-saving medication, and the ability to respond quickly can make a critical difference in an emergency," the office said, in an announcement Thursday.