Ludington police officers recognized for saving men who overdosed.

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LUDINGTON — Over the past five months three people have been saved from heroin overdoses by Ludington police officers. Ludington Police Chief Mark Barnett recently recognized the four officers on the Ludington Police Department Facebook page.

On March 15, 2016 Sergeant Stephen Wietrzykowski and Officer John Wells were dispatched to an address on South Washington Avenue for an emergency call of a 22-year-old man having trouble breathing. Upon their arrival the officers determined that the man had symptoms consistent with an opiate overdose. Both officers quickly attached an AED to the man and administered two doses of Naloxone, a drug that blocks or reverses the effects of opioids. As a result the symptoms subsided and the man was able to breathe again and was transported, treated and later released at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital, Barnett said.

On June 17, 2016 Sgt. Stephen Wietrzykowski was dispatched to an address on East Second Street on a possible heroin overdose. The 28 year-old-man, exhibited symptoms of an opiate overdose, Barnett said. Wietrzykowski administered two doses of Naloxone. A short time later the patient was revived and was further treated by members of the Ludington Fire Department and Life EMS.

On July 30, 2016 Sgt. Susan Maltbie and Officer Chad Skiba were dispatched to a home on East Foster Street for a call of a man not breathing. Upon their arrival the officers observed the man to be laying on the ground experiencing symptoms consistent with an opiate overdose. The 25-year-old man was not breathing. Maltbie and Skiba immediately prepared and administered two doses of Naloxone, Barnett said. Within a minute the patient’s breathing was restored and he was able to walk to the ambulance gurney for transport to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital.

“The four officers involved in the incidents listed above have all been officially commended for their actions,” Barnett said.

“Much has been said about law enforcement officers nationwide recently. It has been my experience that there are a lot of very fine men and women working hard every day to care for the citizens they swore to protect and serve. This is certainly the case here in Mason County and western Michigan.”