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Dispatcher, two officers honored after Aug. 29 overdose response
Summary
At the Oct. 21 Grosse Ile Police Commission meeting, Dispatcher Joseph Catania and Officers Corey King and Nathan White were recognized for lifesaving actions during an Aug. 29 narcotics overdose in which rapid dispatching, naloxone and CPR revived an unresponsive person.
Dispatcher Joseph Catania and two patrol officers were honored Oct. 21 at the Grosse Ile Police Commission meeting for lifesaving work during an Aug. 29 overdose response that department officials say revived an unresponsive person.
Commission members heard a department account that at about 8:05 p.m. Aug. 29 a male caller reported an unconscious person. The presentation said dispatcher Joseph Catania recognized the medical emergency, dispatched officers within seconds and returned to the caller to gather details and initiate an EMS response. According to the department account, Officer Corey King arrived in under two minutes, administered two doses of naloxone (Narcan) and applied an automated external defibrillator; Officer Nathan White prepared a Lucas mechanical CPR device and assisted. The person began breathing and regained consciousness and was later determined to have suffered a narcotic overdose.
The commission presented life‑saving certificates and pins to Dispatcher Joseph Catania and Officer Corey King and issued a letter of recognition to Officer Nathan White. Deputy Chief Rosak handed out the awards during the meeting.
Dispatcher Joseph Catania said, "Just thank you for the award." A commission member added that "the island is thankful for your service," noting the department’s role as a first responder when minutes matter.
Department officials told the commission they could not release body‑worn camera footage or the 9‑1‑1 recording because of privacy concerns. The presentation emphasized the combined action of dispatch, patrol and later fire department crews in the response.
The recognition spotlights the department’s naloxone program: officers carry kits in patrol cars, dispatch distributes naloxone to the public on request and the department records naloxone incidents annually, officials said.
No formal action was required at the meeting beyond the award presentations.
