Southport Cop Recovering After Being Exposed to Fentanyl

Source: (Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images)

SOUTHPORT, Ind. — A Southport police officer is recovering after being exposed to fentanyl and hospitalized.

Southport Police Chief Tom Vaughn told WIBC’s Hammer and Nigel show Monday their officer was assisting Indianapolis Metro Police with an investigation recently, and it was during a search of a suspect’s car that the officer found a rolled-up dollar bill. Inside of that dollar bill was fentanyl, said Chief Vaughn.

“When the officer the money out, the wind had got through the fentanyl and blew it into his face,” Chief Vaughn explained.

The officer’s body immediately reacted to the fentanyl exposure. He used his radio to call for medical help and then reached for his NARCAN, but it was too late. The officer lost consciousness.

The Indianapolis Fire Department arrived on scene just as the Southport officer passed out. IFD were able to take the officer across the street to Community South Hospital.

“If it wasn’t for IFD and the hospital, we could be having a whole different story and talk about something totally different today,” Chief Vaughn explained.

The two-hit combination of fentanyl and/or fentanyl laced drugs and repeat offenders being placed back on the streets is creating pressure on police, said Chief Vaughn. The suspect in this particular case was a repeat offender – someone police had arrested at least four or five times within the last few years, said Vaughn. The chief said officers get discouraged when they see the same person back on the street, now committing a greater level of crime to satisfy their desires.

Vaughn said officers are now equipped with two cans of NARCAN due to the increase in overdoses: one for the person overdosing and one for the officer. Vaughn estimated that his department runs into a case involving fentanyl and/or overdosing individuals at least two to three times a week.

Chief Vaughn said his officer is almost fully recovered and is expected back on the job this week.

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