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Public safety officials report rise in suspected fentanyl overdoses and step up enforcement on unlicensed taxis
Summary
The city’s public safety commissioner said suspected fentanyl overdoses rose from two in 2022 to eight in 2023 and eight year‑to‑date in 2024 with two fatalities; the department described enforcement actions and new cameras targeting unlicensed taxis near the racetrack.
The Commissioner of Public Safety briefed the council on an uptick in suspected fentanyl overdoses and announced coordinated enforcement measures to address unlicensed taxi operations around the racetrack.
"In 2022, we had two suspected fentanyl overdoses; 2023 had eight; 2024 year‑to‑date has eight with two fatalities," the commissioner said, and described the department’s partnership with the FBI Safe Streets Task Force to investigate fentanyl trafficking in the city. The department also said it conducted enforcement actions against unlicensed taxis, issued appearance tickets, and would install cameras and warning signage—"area under surveillance"—in problem areas near Frank Sullivan Place and Caroline Street.
The commissioner also announced the traffic violations bureau is fully operational Monday through Friday and noted a $5,000 donation toward the Saratoga Springs Police Department’s mounted unit from Protect Invest New York K9s.
The remarks were delivered as information to the council; no new ordinance or penalty changes were enacted at the meeting.
