By Seth Daniel
Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes has implemented a new protocol for responding to drug incidents following exposures involving multiple officers. Three officers were affected by Fentanyl last Friday, and another officer had experienced a similar exposure in June.
“What we’ve decided to do is take action,” he said. “This is scary and it’s everywhere now. When officers are in the field and they experience a drug situation, they will be equipped with a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kit…If there are indications of Fentanyl at a scene, our officers will deploy their PPE, including the Tyvek suit. Two little milligrams, and there are about 1,000 milligrams in a packet of sugar – two milligrams of Fentanyl will kill you.”
Officers Luis Teraza, Gilberto Vargas and Deryn Deirio were exposed to Fentanyl last Friday afternoon and subsequently hospitalized due to the effects of the drug. The new protocol was established in response to this incident.
The exposure occurred when officers responded to what appeared to be a motor vehicle accident. The call turned out to involve three men who were overdosing on opiates inside the vehicle rather than a traffic collision.
While moving the vehicle out of traffic, officers came into contact with Fentanyl residue that had contaminated a cigarette box, leading to their exposure.
The three men in the vehicle were revived by emergency responders, with two of them requiring 10 shots of Narcan to regain consciousness.
The officers were transported to the hospital for treatment. They were discharged and returned to duty on Saturday.
Kyes also noted that Sgt. Joe Bevere was believed to have been exposed during an arrest on June 29 involving heroin that was suspected to be cut with Fentanyl.
“To the best of our knowledge, that was our first experience with our officers being exposed,” Kyes said. “This is kind of our first rodeo with this…We’re trying to maintain a balance of overkill and officers being safe.”
The protective equipment kits contain large heavy rubber gloves, N-95/N-100 respirators, eye goggles and Tyvek suits with hoods and booties. These disposable kits have been distributed to each cruiser and officer, with additional supplies being stockpiled.
When drugs or heroin powder are discovered at a scene, officers will put on the PPE and contact the Fire Department to establish a Haz-Mat operation. Firefighters in Haz-Mat suits will then collect evidence and decontaminate the area.