Eight Western NY Region Parole Officers Credited with Saving Three Lives

On November 16, 2021,  Parole Officers Hoth and Katashuk were conducting a home visit where PO Hoth had knocked several times at the door and received no answer. Looking into the home, PO Hoth observed the parolee laying face down on the kitchen floor. The Officers entered the residence and found the subject unresponsive. Officer Hoth contacted 911 and administered one dose of Narcan with no effect. Officer Hoth then administered a second dose of Narcan, which improved his ability to breathe. As he remained unresponsive, PO Hoth then administered a third dose of Narcan which caused him to regain consciousness. EMT arrived, relieved officers Hoth and Katashuk and transported the parolee to a local hospital where he was later medically cleared by medical staff and transported safely back home.

On October 8, 2021, Parole Officers Williams, Hall, Rudyk and Lombardo were working in the Buffalo Metro Area Office when a worker in the office next door summoned them for help. The Parole Officers quickly surmised that a man across the street was overdosing on heroin. PO Hall immediately called 911, while PO Rudyk rolled him to his left side.  PO Williams administered Narcan, provided by an Erie County worker, but the man remained unresponsive.  Parole Officers Williams and Lombardo rushed back into the Area Office to obtain more Narcan kits and ran back to the street.  PO Williams administered Narcan a second time, but the individual was still not responding. PO Lombardo handed PO Williams his Narcan kit, which she then administered. Ultimately, PO Williams administered Narcan a total of five times before the man became alert. He remained alert and breathing as he was transported to the hospital.

On October 4, 2021, Parole Officers Rhodes and Pollman were conducting a home visit at a parolee's residence. Upon learning from roommates that he had not been seen since the day before, PO Rhodes attempted to call the parolee. She could hear his phone ringing through the door, along with rustling sounds and unintelligible speech, and became worried, knowing that this individual always answered his phone. After getting permission to enter his room from the landlord, PO Rhodes and PO Pollman found the parolee sprawled on the floor, unable to move or speak, with a faint pulse and shallow breathing, as well as scratches on his head and face indicative of a fall. Officers immediately called for an ambulance and the parolee was taken to a local hospital. It was determined that the parolee had suffered a massive stroke approximately 24 hours before, and the intervention from PO Rhodes and PO Pollman saved his life.