POUGHKEEPSIE – State Senator Rob Rolison (R, Poughkeepsie) received the support of first responders Wednesday for his “Fentanyl Occupational Exposure Reduction Act” that he has recently introduced.
Rolison and State Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt (Dist. 62) gathered at the City of Poughkeepsie Police Headquarters with police, fire, and corrections officials to explain the dangers posed to first responders when they encounter the deadly opioid.
Introduced in September, the bill would charge suspects who exposed first responders to fentanyl during a rescue, search, or arrest with felony aggravated reckless endangerment .
If convicted, the offenders, labeled “death dealers” by Senator Ortt, could be sentenced to 15 years in prison if convicted under Rolison’s bill.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
In New York City alone, fentanyl is now a factor in 80 percent of overdose deaths, say health authorities.
Rolison issued a stern warning to those who deal with fentanyl. “If you carry fentanyl and recklessly expose a first responder or correction officer to it, you will be guilty of aggravated reckless endangerment, a class C felony,” he said. “Enough is enough. I am proud to stand alongside our brave first responders as we introduce this potentially life-saving measure together.”
“The deadly fentanyl crisis has made its way from our wide open southern border to Main Streets all across New York State, coupled with Albany’s soft-on-crime policies, the lives of the police and first responders who rush in to make a drug arrest or to help save lives that are at risk,” said Ortt. “As a former law enforcement officer, Senator Rolison fully understands the dangers of the job. I am proud to support his legislation to lock up criminals who would jeopardize the safety of the men and women who selflessly serve to keep our communities safe.”
Talking about the near-deadly experience of the Poughkeepsie cop, Rolison said, “Our officer almost died – and he had to stay out of work because of the injuries. The individual who was in possession of the fentanyl was released on an appearance ticket.”
Poughkeepsie Police Chief Tom Pape spoke of the experience of having an officer in his command nearly die due to exposure and praised Rolison’s proposal. “With a drug as powerfully toxic as fentanyl hitting our streets, police officers find themselves in a profoundly different threat environment. Day after day, our men and women walk the beat to protect our citizens and keep communities safe. They should not have to worry about occupational overdoses which will sicken and potentially kill them.”
It was a City of Poughkeepsie police officer who suffered an exposure overdose after investigating two subjects found to be smoking drugs in a parked vehicle in September. He self-administered Narcan at the scene and was rushed to the hospital where he required further treatment. The officer has not returned to work. (The initial account of the incident can be found here.)
Dutchess County Sheriff’s Detective Sergeant Adam Harris is the coordinator for the Dutchess County Drug Task Force. Made up of officers from the Towns of East Fishkill, Fishkill, and Hyde Park, along with the Cities of Beacon and Poughkeepsie, along with the sheriff’s office have been targeting illegal drug activities every day and have been focusing on what Harris calls “the fentanyl poison that is killing members of our community.”
The leader of the task force says, “The people responsible for these deaths are the dealers that are pushing this poison to our friends and neighbors. The task force is working around the clock to arrest the dealers.” He said that bail reform often allows the dealers to be released on appearance tickets. “They get a ticket to come back and then go right back to selling fentanyl. Each time they do, we’ll be there to arrest them every time. At some point, state lawmakers are going to realize that bail reform is putting killers back on the street the same day we arrest them.”
The Dutchess County Drug Task Force has arrested more than 50 individuals who were in possession of fentanyl between January and October of this year.
The text of Rolison’s bill can be found here.
