The Durango Herald using online commenters to call into question the response of Durango Police Department officers during an emergency situation is a disservice to our responders (Herald, Sept. 15), as well as the public that relies on the local newspaper for accurate information.
No one said the police department officers exposed to fentanyl fumes overdosed. Social media commenters were not at the scene. Administering Narcan after someone loses consciousness from exposure to a drug that is 100 times more powerful than morphine is a perfectly appropriate safety precaution.
As the public information officer for the city, I value the Herald’s role in keeping the public informed, but not every comment posted online is worth a story. It’s OK to exercise some discretion.
Tom Sluis
Durango
Editor’s note: Social media posts, off-the-record sources and collective curiosity can be the impetus for factual, socially responsible and vigilant news reporting. Our story was supported by six independent sources in the public health sector. We never reported police officers overdosed; in fact, just the opposite. Public health officials worry that the perceived dangers of secondhand exposure to fentanyl can prevent would-be good Samaritans from rendering aid to those overdosing. Our story provided the facts about secondhand exposure.
