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(Becky Long • Clay County Progress) Clay County deputies Justin Osborn, left, and Kyle Lickteig, on right, receive Letters of Commendation from Sheriff Bobby Deese during a brief recognition luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 17. The deputies were distinguished for saving two lives after drug overdose.
Law enforcement officers are often lauded for drug arrests, but it’s rare they receive recognition for saving lives as a result of those drugs. That’s what happened at the Clay County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, Feb. 17.
Sheriff Bobby Deese recognized two deputies, Justin Ray Osborn and Kyle Alan Lickteig by presenting each a Letter of Commendation for reviving two individuals in the midst of separate drug overdoses.
In November, at 11 p.m. Osborn was dispatched to a public restroom in a Hayesville convenience store where he found a young woman unresponsive, Deese said. The call came in as a medical emergency of unknown circumstances regarding a woman who was reported as being unconscious.
“Osborn found the woman who had become locked in a bathroom stall with her young child, Deese wrote in the Letter of Accommodation. “At that point Osborn
rendered an effective dose of Naloxone to the woman, bringing her back to a responsive level and saving her life.”
Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. It was administered to the woman in the form of a nasal spray. Osborn called Emergency Medical Services after the woman became conscious.
“Deputy Osborn had only been assigned as a single officer unit on night shift patrol a few short weeks after completing the field training officer program in November when the incident occurred,” Deese said. “His dedication of service to the community and the citizens of Clay County reflects the highest honor and professional training of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.”
Lickteig found himself in a similar circumstance on Jan. 9, when he was called to a Hayesville residence around 1 a.m. in reference to “an unknown medical emergency.” He found a man in an unconscious state in the home.
Deese said after a quick assessment of the man’s condition, Lickteig rendered two doses of Naloxone and began performing CPR, bringing the man back to a responsive level and saving his life.
“Let it be known that due to Deputy Kyle Lickteig’s decisive actions and readiness to render aid, he save the life of another,” Deese wrote in the Letter of Commendation.
Officers carry Naloxone and keep it in all the buildings and vehicles they occupy. Deese said the recent uses marked the third time it has been used to save a life.
“It’s not only for our safety, we serve the public and we want to take care of everyone.Whether they’re on drugs or not they’re as important as anyone else,” he said.
Deese plans to nominate the officers for a state award as well.
“I’m proud of them,” he said. “Both without hesitation jumped in and saved lives just like they were taught in training. ”