Long Beach police and fire departments have teamed up to use a controversial approach to “de-escalating” some of the potentially violent encounters they may have.
The departments announced they are now using midazolam - a powerful sedative - to calm down combative people.
Over the last four months, paramedics in the city have used the city on more than three dozen people, according to the Long Beach Post.
City officials The introduction of the drug is part of the new “Integrated Medical Intervention Response” program, which was designed to cut down on use of force.
“Our officers periodically come into contact with individuals exhibiting different types of behaviors,” Police Chief Robert G. Luna said in a statement.
“Already, we’ve leveraged this plan to create a safer environment for our community members and first responders.”
The program includes a new dispatch code, known as “647V-Intoxicated Person Potentially Violent,” launched on Jan. 1, 2021. For the first time in the city’s history, LBPD and LBFD will get the call and jointly respond.
About 500 police personnel, 336 firefighters and 62 dispatchers have completed training to participate in the program, according to the city.
Critics of the drug’s use applaud the effort to cut back on use of force - but said any drug could have side effects on the person it is used on.
"Midazolam can stop people from breathing and put people to sleep [when used] on top of other medications...which is why they need to be given in a monitored medical setting by a team of professionals that includes a physician." said Dr. Beverly Philip, with the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
"Without knowing what those underlying issues [of suspects] are, the effect of any sedating medicine that the paramedics are giving is completely unpredictable."
Medical experts with the city said the health and well-being of those involved in the calls is their top priority when responding.
“Managing acute medical conditions with medicine is something paramedics do every day and handling patients that are a danger to themselves or others is medically necessary,” Dr. Tiffany Abramson, the medical director of the LBFD, said in a statement.
“We must adjust the way we respond to these incidents. Once a patient can de-escalate and begin to relax, additional care can be rendered without the use of more invasive techniques that may cause additional harm. Saving lives remains our top priority.”
Chief Luna said the use of the sedative is another tool after doing away with using the controversial carotid restraint or chokehold.
To read more about the process surrounding the use of midazolam, click here.
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