London police board wants province to protect officers administering naloxone

London's police board wants the province to step in after Ontario's police watchdog rejected a request to stop investigating serious or fatal cases involving officers administering naloxone.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU)said in a letter to a group representing chiefs of police it will continue to investigate cases of serious injury of death and "sees no reason to carve out an exception in naloxone cases."

• Police must notify SIU of incidents involving anti-overdose drug naloxone

The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) suggested police forces shouldn't have to inform the SIUwhen an officer is involved in a medically-assisted incident. However the SIUis demanding police must "immediately" notify them if the anti-overdose drug naloxonewas used.

London deputy police chiefDaryl Longworth, who supports the decision to use naloxone on the front lines, said officers need more assurance that they won't be investigated for "doing the right thing" on the job.

"My reaction is to ask [the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services]to step in and change the legislation, change the mandate and build some safe guards for our officers. Plain and simple." he said.

'We demand clarity'

Longworth said the OACP wants protection, noting that the oversight body in British Columbia decided overdose deaths where naloxone is administered won't be investigated.

• Deputy Chief worries administering naloxonecould put police officers 'in jeopardy'

The local police board greenlighted a move to send a letter to the ministry asking for immediate clarity on officers using naloxone on the job.

"I would like to let [thedirector of the SIU]know on behalf of myself that that's unacceptable and it's not good enough," said board chair Mo Salih."We will go directly to the ministry on this with that letter and make it very clear where London is on this that we demand clarity."

Late last year, Ontarioannounced a commitment to provide free naloxonekits to all 61 police services in the provinceand to more than 445 fire prevention services.