Carroll Valley Police Officer receives Life Saving Award

(9/16) Carroll Valley Patrolman Nathan Groft was honored September 13 when he received the Life Saving Award from Carroll Valley Mayor Ron Harris and Chief of Police Richard L. Hileman II.

Similarly to many towns in the area, Carroll Valley is also suffering under the hand of the heroin epidemic, as an increase in opioid use has been steadily increasing. Heroin usage is seen as an arising problem across the country, and has unfortunately entered the small town area of Carroll Valley. Overdoses and deaths related to opioid use have been seen in the neighboring town of Fairfield as well, and have been increasing.

Groft was trained to handle and carry out the naloxone reversal procedure on those persons found suffering from opioid intoxication. Naloxone is a drug that can be injected into a muscle, under the skin, or into a vein through an IV. The drug blocks or reverses the effects of opioid medication, including extreme drowsiness, slowed breathing, or loss of consciousness. It is currently being used to treat a narcotic overdose in an emergency situation. Groft was the first Officer in Adams County to perform the naloxone reversal. Since this time, there have been seven more successful reversals in the County.

On May 8, Groft was called to a home in Carroll Valley. There he found a 27 year old young man who was unconscious and hardly breathing. The cause was from an opioid overdose. Groft used his training and knowledge about the naloxone reversal and successfully revived the young man. Without his act of bravery, the young man may have seen an entirely different fate.

Groft was presented with the Life Saving Award, which was pinned to his uniform by Mayor Harris. Many thanks to this young Patrolman who is making Carroll Valley a better place every day through his actions.

Corporal Clifford J. Weikert was also honored at the same September 13 Borough Council meeting as he received a medal for fifteen years of service to the Carroll Valley Police Department. Corporal Weikert serves as the second in command to Police Chief Hileman, and has been serving the community for years. Mayor Harris awarded Corporal Weikert with a service citation bar, and was thanked for his service thus far, for helping to keep Carroll Valley a better and safer place.