Beckley Police Department officers discuss fentanyl threat to officers

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — When Beckley Police Department Lieutenant Jason McDaniel joined the force more than two decades ago, he said on Monday, July 15, 2024, crack cocaine was the worst drug he had ever encountered.

He said things have changed since then, however.

“The pills came, and the pill epidemic. You know, the pill epidemic was much worse for the Appalachians, where we are located, than crack cocaine ever was,” said Lt. McDaniel. “So, it did get worse.”

He said enforcement officers are now fighting hard against the presence of heroin and the painkiller fentanyl, which is 100 times more powerful than morphine and much more addictive.

Government statistics show fentanyl overdose deaths almost doubled in the U.S. between 2019 and 2020 and have stayed about the same since then.

Lt. McDaniel said the drug is so dangerous, law enforcement officers wear gloves during drug searches because fentanyl can penetrate the skin and cause an overdose.

He said inhaling it can also be deadly to an officer.

Patrolman First Class D.L. Cline said fentanyl is just as dangerous for four-legged officers like Vito, a two-year-old Belgian Malinois canine officer Cline trains to locate illegal drugs.

“If they get into it, they can overdose just as easy as we can,” Ptl. Cline said, speaking of K-9 officers. “That’s why we carry Narcan with us. If that does happen, we administer Narcan just as we would a human being, until you get them further medical attention.”

Lt. McDaniel said local officers are continuing to fight the influx of illegal drugs.

He said they’re also waiting.

“History has shown, it continues to get worse,” he noted. The question is, what is next?”

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