Public commenter alleges MPD discouraged rescue breaths at overdoses; council asks for information

Medford — A harm‑reduction professional told the council on June 4 that he had witnessed incidents in which Medford Police officers blocked trained community responders from delivering rescue breaths at opioid overdoses and instead used chest‑compression‑only techniques.

Allegation and sources Nicholas Stanley, who identified himself as a harm‑reduction professional, said federal guidance and many harm‑reduction organizations train rescue breathing for opioid overdose because the primary medical problem is respiratory depression. He alleged two incidents, dated April 28, 2023, and March 22, 2025, occurring under the Main Street overpass, in which officers told rescuers to stop rescue breathing and employed compression‑only resuscitation; in one case he said the person died while bystanders pleaded for officers to provide rescue breaths. Stanley said he emailed the council copies of his notes and asked where officers receive overdose‑response training and whether officers were confusing overdose response with cardiac‑arrest protocols.

Council response The mayor and council thanked Stanley for bringing the concerns to the meeting and acknowledged receipt of his emailed materials. No staff presentation or immediate operational response was given at the council meeting; Stanley requested answers to the training and procedural questions in writing.

What to watch for Stanley’s comments raise operational and training questions that the council or police administration could address at a later meeting or in written response: which best‑practice protocols are taught to officers for suspected opioid overdose, how those protocols are implemented, and whether department practice aligns with federal guidance from agencies such as SAMHSA. The record at the June 4 meeting contains the public comment and the council’s acknowledgment; the council did not take formal action that evening.