Three San Diego probation employees honored after downtown naloxone rescue

Three San Diego County Probation employees received a Hero Award for saving a man during an apparent opioid overdose, the County of San Diego said.

The county’s account says Deputy Probation Officers Amanda Allsberry and Lino Rojas and Probation Aide Stephanie Roach were walking near the Hall of Justice on July 6 when they saw a man lying motionless in the intersection at India Street and West C Street.

Probation Division Chief Maritza Rodriguez said the man was unresponsive and breathing irregularly; the team moved in immediately. Rojas called 911 while Allsberry cleared the man’s airway, placed him in the recovery position and tried to wake him.

When the man did not respond, Allsberry administered naloxone. After a second episode of vomiting, the officers obtained another dose from a Metropolitan Transit System officer; Allsberry gave the second dose five minutes after the first and the man’s breathing deepened and stabilized, the county said.

The team kept the man stable in the recovery position until police and paramedics arrived. First responders later found a large butcher knife in the man’s pocket; no one was injured, the county said.

San Diego County Probation Chief Tamika Nelson said, "The officers demonstrated exceptional professionalism, teamwork, and commitment to public service. Their actions brought great credit to themselves and to the Probation Department."

Rodriguez said the team’s coordinated, calm response likely prevented a fatal overdose. The county noted that Probation’s top priority is keeping people safe, including those in their care, department staff and the community.

The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce honored the three employees at its annual "Honoring Our Region’s Heroes" event on Sept. 26, the county said.

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