Burlington police officers will now carry a heroin overdose antidote.Chief Brandon del Pozo announced Friday morning his officers will carry Naloxone.Del Pozo said the department underwent training on how to administer the overdose drug and purchased enough for each officer to carry it.25 facts about heroinAll officers will carry Naloxone effective immediately. Naloxone is administered nasally and immediately reverses the effects of heroin.“I commend the Burlington Police Department for embracing and quickly operationalizing this new role, joining the state police and numerous other municipal police departments across the country working to reduce opiate deaths," Mayor Miro Weinberger said in a press release.Burlington firefighters already carry Naloxone.“We’re pleased as a department to join the team of first responders equipped with this lifesaving measure,” Chief of Police Brandon del Pozo said. “Law enforcement officers are held to the highest standards of performance in our community, so every officer had to be thoroughly trained and properly equipped to confidently carry and administer this antidote."Del Pozo and Weinberger did not say how much it cost to provide the overdose antidote to the officers or where the money for the drug came from.Del Pozo reaffirmed his department's commitment to Vermont's 2013 good Samaritan law, which protects those seeking help for an overdose from facing criminal penalties.Burlington police join Vermont State Police as the two largest agencies in Vermont to carry Naloxone.Del Pozo said his department would collect data on the usage of the drug and provide statistics about when Naloxone was used.

Burlington police officers will now carry a heroin overdose antidote.



Chief Brandon del Pozo announced Friday morning his officers will carry Naloxone.

Del Pozo said the department underwent training on how to administer the overdose drug and purchased enough for each officer to carry it.

25 facts about heroin



All officers will carry Naloxone effective immediately. Naloxone is administered nasally and immediately reverses the effects of heroin.

“I commend the Burlington Police Department for embracing and quickly operationalizing this new role, joining the state police and numerous other municipal police departments across the country working to reduce opiate deaths," Mayor Miro Weinberger said in a press release.

Burlington firefighters already carry Naloxone.

“We’re pleased as a department to join the team of first responders equipped with this lifesaving measure,” Chief of Police Brandon del Pozo said. “Law enforcement officers are held to the highest standards of performance in our community, so every officer had to be thoroughly trained and properly equipped to confidently carry and administer this antidote."

Del Pozo and Weinberger did not say how much it cost to provide the overdose antidote to the officers or where the money for the drug came from.

Del Pozo reaffirmed his department's commitment to Vermont's 2013 good Samaritan law, which protects those seeking help for an overdose from facing criminal penalties.

Burlington police join Vermont State Police as the two largest agencies in Vermont to carry Naloxone.

Del Pozo said his department would collect data on the usage of the drug and provide statistics about when Naloxone was used.