The Homeless Coalition of Windsor-Essex is the latest group to push for Windsor police officers to carry Naloxone.
Newly elected coalition Chair Ron Dunn said the coalition strongly urges Chief Al Frederick and the Windsor Police Services Board to reconsider their position on the use of the life-saving drug.
The chief maintains his position that his officers won’t carry Naloxone/Narcan nasal spray to prevent overdose deaths because paramedics have the expertise to do that job.
"If a life can be saved then it is our belief that every effort should be made to do so," said Dunn. "We maintain that the officers of the WPS, whom we support and respect, are bound by honour and duty to serve and protect, then administering Naloxone does just that in many cases."
The coalition, which represents approximately 40 agencies and stakeholders in the region that are working to end chronic homelessness, has also expressed its collective sadness at the loss of four lives over the past weekend due to overdoses.
The provincial government announced earlier this week that police officers who administer naloxone in failed attempts to reverse the effects of an overdose will no longer be subjected to investigations by Special Investigations Unit (SIU). A regulation under the Police Services Act previously required the SIU to investigate any incident in which a civilian dies after naloxone was administered.
The coalition is offering any assistance it can with training or information that may help the police reach a favourable decision on Naloxone use.
The Homeless Coalition of Windsor-Essex added that it supports sanctioned safe injection sites, and not unsanctioned or rogue sites, or those who wish to operate them without proper authority to do so.