Deputy Chief worries administering naloxone could put police officers 'in jeopardy'

The London Police Service is seeking assurance from provincial officials that officers will be protected in cases where they use naloxone, after Ontario announced front-line emergency workers would be equipped with overdose antidote kits.

• Ontario expanding fight against 'heartbreaking' opioid crisis with more safe injection sites, naloxone kits

Health Minister Eric Hoskins, along with officials from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, announced on Thursday a commitment to provide free naloxone kits to all 61 police services across the province and more than 445 fire prevention services.

But London deputy police chief Daryl Longworth, who supports the decision, wonders if officers using naloxone could be putting their jobs at risk.

"Will our officers be subject to scrutiny by [Ontario's Special Investigations Unit] should they try to do a medical intervention and that person dies or ends up in hospital?" he asked.

• Drugs surpass car crashes as city's No. 1 killer, health unit suspects 

Although his concerns won't stop officers from carrying and possibly administering naloxone, Longworth said a criminal investigation could "put our officers in jeopardy should they just be trying to do the right thing."

Ontario's police watchdog examines cases of death, serious injury and allegations of sexual assault related to police interactions with the public.

Longworth said clarification from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correction Services or the SIU would help "guarantee our officers some protection in those instances."​

Ministry response

A Ministry representative told CBC News Thursday the SIU will investigate all cases — including ones where there is a naloxone-related death or injury.

"The SIU investigates all deaths and serious injuries in cases involving the police. That includes cases where the extent of alleged involvement was the administration of naloxone," read a statement from a ministry spokesperson. "The SIU would investigate even if the drug was not administered, but the police were otherwise present or involved in the lead-up to death or serious injury. No charges would be laid if the ensuing investigation finds that the officer involved acted within the law."

A proposed new legislation under the Safer Ontario Act would strengthen the police oversight system, prompting the SIU to complete investigations within 120 days.

Province plans

London police already have naloxone kits at their headquarters — with several frontline officers set to carry the kits in the new year.

• London police considering Naloxone kits for front-line officers

The province paid more than $5 million for up to 100,000 Naloxone kits distributed between Oct. 2013 and Sept. 2017 through pharmacies, jails, local health units and hospitals.

• Why free naloxone is 'turning the medical model on its head'

Over the next three years, the province will invest more than $222 million to fight the overdose crisis by also expanding the number of consumption and prevention related sites.

The change comes after reports reflected more than 330 opioid-related deaths in Ontario from May to July this year — about a 70 per cent increase from the same period last year.