InTucker Magazine

On the Beat with Sgt. Obester

On the Beat is written monthly by DeKalb Police Sgt. J. Obester. Lt. J.A. Ridlin is Tucker’s liaison to the DeKalb County Police Department and can be contacted by email at jaridlin@dekalbcountyga.gov or by phone at (678) 597-9040.

I want to tell you a secret – many of us who get into law enforcement aspire to be superheroes. No, not the fly-through-the-sky, x-ray vision type of superhero, but the kind that saves lives. Perhaps it was our parents influence, or maybe it was by watching too many police television shows like C.H.I.P.S. (yes I am old), but somehow it became ingrained in us to help make the world a better place by wearing a badge and responding to 911 calls for assistance.

In fact, during the 22 years I have worked in law enforcement, I have witnessed my fellow officers do some amazing things, including grabbing hold of suicide bridge jumpers, rescuing hostages held at gunpoint, and pulling injured victims from burning vehicles. I have also witnessed, sadly, my fellow officers give their lives for the citizens of DeKalb County. To me, these brothers and sisters are the ultimate examples of a “super” human.

Like comic book superheroes, police officers sometimes require the use of tools or technology to help us accomplish our mission. While the DeKalb County Police Department has yet to provide us web shooters or invisible jets, they have provided us a great amount of technology and of course our wonderful Chevy Tahoes. We have also been issued top-of-the-line body cameras (see June 2022 On the Beat). Incidentally, these cameras are located directly in the middle of our chest – just like Iron Man!

Additionally, the Department has issued all of our police officers high-quality tourniquets. For those that do not know, a tourniquet is a medical device that can be placed around the top of an extremity (such as a leg) that is injured and suffering from severe blood loss. The application of a well-placed tourniquet controls bleeding very effectively, allowing time for other first responders to arrive and provide more thorough medical care. Throughout the years, our officers have utilized this device several times – on suspects, victims, and each other. Indeed, several officers now carry their tourniquet on their belt (like Batman), accessible at a moment’s notice.

More recently, all of us were issued naloxone, otherwise known as Narcan. This superhero medication, delivered through a nasal spray or an applicator similar to an epi pen, can counteract the effects of an opioid overdose. If we believe someone has overdosed (unresponsiveness, slow respiratory rate, low blood pressure, pinpoint pupils, etc.), we have been trained to quickly administer one or more doses of this medicine upon our arrival. Although most of us are not trained paramedics, we all have now been supplied and encouraged to utilize Narcan in these potentially life-threatening situations.

In the last six months, I have responded to several overdose deaths at local hotels. Most of these deaths were caused by Fentanyl, a powerful opioid one hundred times more potent than Heroin. This horrible and very addictive drug has made inroads into communities across the country, including the City of Tucker. While it was too late for our officers to help in these sad situations at the hotels, there have been several other recent occasions where our officers were able to administer Narcan during an overdose and saved the individual’s life.

If you or someone you know is suffering from any addiction, including opioids such as Fentanyl, I encourage you to get help. In DeKalb County we have several great resources such as our Crisis Center (https://dekcsb.org/crisis/) located on Winn Way near Emory Decatur Hospital. Of course, you can also call 911 anytime, and our professional EMS and police personnel will respond as quickly as possible.

Finally, during this summer travel season, I encourage everyone to take a second look at their emergency first aid kit. Given the recent increase in drug overdoses nationwide, I encourage the addition of Narcan to your supplies. While it requires a bit of training and special handling, this “super” drug can literally save a person’s life if administered soon after an overdose.

Hopefully, you will never have to be in a position to save a life.  However, I’ve learned in my job that you never know when you may have to put on a cape and engage your superpowers. On behalf of all the officers and the command staff here at Tucker Precinct, we wish you safe travels this summer.