Skid Row: I’ve had to change from crime fighting to death prevention
/SKID ROW
I’ve had to change from crime fighting to death prevention
By: Deon Joseph
I tell these stories not to brag about myself, but to open people’s eyes to the realities I see. The things I do are done by many cops and firefighters, even regular citizens, so I don’t need or desire applause. I just need your ears.
So the past few weeks in Skid Row have been tough. I’ve had to change my strategy from crime fighting to death prevention.
Two weeks ago, I literally brought a man back to life from a fentanyl overdose. He was literally knocking on the doors of the pearly gates. It took me seven minutes to bring him back. When I got tired, I tagged in a citizen. When I saw he was not using enough strength with his chest compressions, I took over again.
I gave the dying man Narcan, but it wasn’t working fast enough. Now I really began pumping his heart. I feared as strong as I was, I would crack his ribs, but I couldn’t let him die.
As I’m continuing, several people surrounded us, some teasing and taunting the poor soul. Others were praying for him. One walked up and bent down and told the man, “That’s what you get you stupid ‘ninja’”
He continued scolding the dying man until I looked up with sweat pouring from my head and said “Bro. Is that really what he needs right now?” When he saw the look on my face, he backed off while the others continued praying and calling out to the man.
Finally, after minutes of trying, he came back to life. Watching his eyes go from dull to normal in an instant gave me a rush of relief. The paramedics came for him. As they took him, I took the time to educate the public about what to do when someone is dying from what the streets call “FEDDY”. I then left.
Throughout the day, I saw paramedics pumping on the chest of more fallen victims. I hoped the next few weeks would be better. They weren’t. I had to try to bring back two more. One I was successful with, another, I wasn’t so sure if he made it when he was taken to the hospital.
I went to a community meeting at a shelter and gave a passionate speech about the dangers of fentanyl and how it is killing so many of them. The hands went up. Some with questions. Other statements like, “It ain’t nothing you can do. These people want the shit. They know it’s going to kill them. So who cares.” Another chimed in in a more respectable tone “He is right, Jordan. They actually want it.” A third man started to talk, and broke down, stating, “I just lost my sister two months ago. I know she didn’t want to die. I’m an addict. And I don’t want to die. I just want to get high. But with every hit, I fear I’m not going to wake up but I can’t stop it. I can’t …”.
He broke down and cried. He mourned his sister as well. I couldn’t pray for him in uniform, but I promised I’d pray for him at 8 p.m. if he would set an alarm and do the same.
I left feeling emotional, and as I left, I got flagged down for another man who was dying. It never seems to stop. The only time it seems to stop is when I show up and disrupt it. But like many, I can’t be there all the time.
I get to the station, and I get a phone call from a mother desperately seeking her daughter. The mother hears reports of fentanyl killing so many, and fears her daughter is one smoke away from being one of them. As soon as I hang up the phone, I get another from a father. I know both of their children. Being a father myself, I went to look for them. But with the tent being up, it’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
It’s not just those without housing. Over the radio I hear call after call of “ambulance overdose” inside the area hotels. So many people who just got off the street and housed did all of that to die alone from the same deadly production in their home.
I look at the reduction in tents out there. Yes, some of it is people being sheltered and housed. But most of it is because people are dying. There are times I feel like this is the actual plan to reduce homelessness. I know that’s not true, but how could our government allow such a horrible drug to thrive here. How can we not consider serious consequences for those who sell it.
Why do we have county-funded agencies giving meth pipes to people for them to destroy themselves. Then they want to show up as the heroes with Narcan to bring people back that they gave the tools of destruction to.
I got 4 1/2 years left. I wanted Skid Row to be better than when I found it. But with every dragon we slay, another gets created. And fentanyl is one of the worst I’ve ever seen.
I’ve come to this conclusion:
· Harm reduction is evil.
· Allowing drugs to flow freely across our borders is evil.
· Removing consequences for those who sell it is evil.
It’s beyond wrong. It’s beyond poor judgment. It is just plain evil.
Deon Joseph is a 28 year veteran of law enforcement in Southern California - 24 of those years working in the homeless community to create an environment conducive to change for those in recovery, as a Lead Officer. He’s been recognized for his work locally and nationally, and news stories and documentaries surrounding his work in crime fighting and community relations, featured him. www.deonjoseph.org
