All Police Departments in Cape May County to Start Carrying Heroin Antidote

The Ocean City Police Department is among the police departments that will soon be permitted to carry Narcan, Cape May County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor and Chief Thomas D’Intino of the Sea Isle City Police Department and President of the Cape May County Chiefs of Police Association announced on Thursday.

The Cape May County Chiefs have voted to support the use of Narcan by all Cape May County Police Departments, the Sheriff’s Department and Prosecutor’s office.

A County Chief’s Association Policy approved by the Prosecutor is being drafted together with training guidelines for officers. 

Narcan is the common name for Naxolone, the medication that is used counter the effects of a heroin overdose. 

Previously only hospital staff was permitted to administer the antidote.

However, the Opioid Antidote and Overdose Prevention Act made it legal for police officers to start carrying the drug. Legislators passed the act last year. 

Two Detectives from the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office are being sent to train-the-trainer class at the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.  They will then be able to being training all Cape May County Officers following approved Standard Operating Procedures.

The County Chiefs and Prosecutor will follow the model program developed by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, which is a standardized training module.  The pilot program was announced by Gov. Chris Christie and Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman on April 2.

Taylor said his office’s drug forfeiture funds will be used to purchase the Narcan, which costs about $25 a dose, with an additional $25 per officer for related equipment for all of the police departments, including training costs.

The County Chiefs need approval from the Attorney General before moving forward with local training.

In 2013 there were 106 overdoses with 23 fatalities in Cape May County. So far in 2014, there have been 56 overdoses with three fatalities.