PPD sees the spike in overdoses
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, December 4th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The Pendleton Police Department is one agency that has noticed a recent spike in opioid overdoses. Umatilla County Public Health notified the public last week alerting the public to the increase.
Pendleton Police Chief Chuck Byram said that in one week alone his officers responded to five overdose calls. He urges people to stay on the scene if reporting an overdose. They an provide vital information and they will not be arrested.
“Individuals at the scene of an overdose, whether they are the ones overdosing or whether they are just the ones around where the person overdosed, are immune from any type of prosecution,” he said. “That means we can’t arrest them.”
Those people could have information that can help save a life. Byram said the state of Oregon has passed laws that put saving a life above making a drug bust.
“In Oregon, the number-one thought here is to save a life,” he said. “To figure out what this individual took, how did they take it, how long ago did they take it; so that the medical people have this information in order to save a life.”
In addition to not being arrested, officers will not take away the narcotics when responding to an overdose. He said a typical response is fear from addicts that they will lose the drugs they possess.
“They can’t go without it,” he said. “They get really sick. Worse than anything that anybody can imagine.” Byram said officers will not take away narcotics from those who report overdoses.
