MANCHESTER TWP, NJ – A Manchester man whose life was saved by police officers after heroin overdose said the encounter saved his life and helped him turn his life around.
Dale Dexter came to Manchester Police Headquarters on December 20, 2022 at approximately 1:00 p.m. to meet directly with the two officers who saved his life following a heroin-induced overdose on February 10, 2016 at approximately 6:29 a.m.
Upon arriving at the scene, the officers found Mr. Dexter unresponsive, with a low pulse rate, and shallow breathing. Ptl. Michael Guarino, now Det. Guarino, and Ptl. Jason Wiener rendered aid on the scene. After assessing Mr. Dexter’s condition, the officers administered Naloxone (Narcan) to improve his condition. Following the administration of Naloxone, Manchester First Aid (Squad 29)/Paramedics arrived and assumed ongoing care for Mr. Dexter, who was ultimately able to survive.
Det. Guarino and Ptl. Wiener met Mr. Dexter in a briefing room at Manchester Police Headquarters. Mr. Dexter thanked them for saving his life and shook their hands.
“Without these two gentlemen, I would not be standing here today and my life would not be as amazing as it is today. It helped me change my life and I couldn’t be more grateful to them,” he said.
The day he overdosed marked a turning point in his life, and Mr. Dexter said he has been clean for five years now. One of his life’s goals is to help as many people as possible, and to give back to the community from which he admittedly had taken so much. In addition to volunteer work with Hope Sheds Light in Toms River, he has been involved as a peer recovery specialist with the organization.
The Manchester Police Department thanks Mr. Dexter for taking to time to acknowledge the officers for their distinguished efforts and wish him the best in the future.