Police Officer Snatched 6 Lives From Jaws of Overdose Death in 6 Months

BRAIDWOOD, IL — A Braidwood police officer saved six men and women from dying of drug overdoses in six months.

“I believe that has to be a record,” Police Chief Nick Ficarello said of Officer Chris Altieri’s heroic efforts.

Altiery, 26, used Narcan to counteract the effects of a drug overdose most recently on Friday night at an apartment complex on Cermak Road.

Altiery administered six milligrams of Narcan to a 29-year-old woman who later explained she had done “more heroin than she usually does” and also took some Xanax, police said.

Altiery, who has been on the department for two years, made his other five saves since December, when the Braidwood police were first equipped with Narcan.

“Chris is an outstanding young officer who takes his job seriously,” Ficarello said.