Quincy police lieutenant honored for overdose response program

A Quincy police lieutenant was honored today for bringing an innovative overdose response program to his department, police said.

Lieutenant Pat Glynn,55, partnered with the state Department of Public Health and brought Narcan training to officers in 2010. The treatment helps counter opioid overdoses. It has been used 252 times since officers were trained, according to Police Chief Paul Keenan .

Glynn and Keenan traveled to San Francisco, Calif., where Glynn received the Gary P. Hayes Memorial Award from the Police Executive Research Forum, a leading agency in innovative policing.

Recipients of this prestigious prize are nominated by their peers for their leadership, creativity, and ability to engage with co-workers and the community, according to the organization’s website.

Glynn said he was thrilled to accept the award, and was happy the word was getting out about the program. The Quincy trial was so successful that it is used as a national model, he said.

“The take-away is that this is saving lives,” Glynn said. “We need to change the way we treat drug addicts. They are sick, and need our help.”

Keenan said he was happy for Glynn.