Latest news with #OlneyPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Olney Police Department celebrates new building with ribbon cutting
OLNEY, TX (KFDX/KJTL) — On Monday, May 19, the Olney Police Department was out with the old and in with the new. The department held a ribbon-cutting to showcase its new state-of-the-art building. 'The facility was extremely worn down, tired [and] failing,' Olney Police Chief Dan Birbeck said. 'So we were really honored to be able to get out of that and into a new, fresh environment.' Birbeck said the new project was about five years in the making. It allowed the department to improve its technology and the way its officers handle cases. 'In addition to a lot of upgrades, one of those was a new interview room that we now have, that we didn't have at the old facility. We have a new IT infrastructure where everything has got redundant systems to it, so we don't have to worry about it,' Birbeck said. 'We have an upgraded property and evidence system in storage. So, we meet best practices which was another goal of ours to be able to obtain Texas Police Chief Association Best Practices.' Birbeck said obtaining that accreditation from the TPCA would not have been possible without generous donors and community members. During the ceremony, the building was named after Miss Perry, a long-time contributor to the Olney community. It is located at 210 South Grand Avenue, so anyone can stop by and see it. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Olney Police equips residents with free Narcan
OLNEY (KFDX/KJTL) — Dozens of community members in Olney attended a Narcan training event on Thursday, March 27, 2025, to not only be informed but to be equipped to battle the ongoing fentanyl fight in Texoma. RELATED: Texas launches interactive map to find Narcan, prevent fentanyl overdoses The training session was hosted by the Olney Police Department, with two sessions taking place at the Olney Civic Center at 11 a.m. and noon on Thursday. Representatives with the Central Plains Center led the training session. According to Dan Birbeck, Olney's Chief of Police, the ongoing fentanyl epidemic isn't just impacting large cities but smaller communities all over Texas. 'We do know that there's fentanyl here,' Chief Birbeck said. 'We're dealing with a lot of methamphetamine, heroine, cocaine, things like that, but it's laced with fentanyl. It's dangerous because you don't see it.' As a part of the training event, free doses of Narcan were given to concerned citizens, church leaders, parents, and grandparents. They were instructed on how to use the potentially life-saving treatment in detail. RELATED: Breaking Fentanyl's Grip: The dangers and efforts of relief 'We're educating our community and getting Narcan into the hands of people that can make a difference and save a life,' Chief Birbeck said. Attendees also learned how to spot the signs of an overdose, what to do if they suspect someone they know is experiencing an opioid overdose, and what to do after they distribute Narcan. 'I always say, cops and paramedics are minutes away when seconds count,' Chief Birbeck said. 'The Narcan is just kind of a stop-gap to get them from where they overdosed to a medical facility so they can truly reverse the effects.' According to officials with the Central Plains Center, Narcan's effects last for 30 to 90 minutes. They said that after distributing Narcan, someone experiencing an overdose should be taken to a hospital as soon as possible because they could potentially go back into overdose. Cam Montoya, a Young County resident, was in attendance on Thursday morning. She said she's seen the impact of dangerous drugs in her community. 'A lot of the drugs that are in Young County nowadays, I mean, people are overdosing all the time,' Montoya said. 'The Narcan will really come in handy.' After receiving the training and her free doses of Narcan, Montoya said she hopes she never has to use it, but she's ready if she ever does. 'I have three grandchildren that are in their teens, so I worry about them getting ahold of the wrong stuff,' Montoya said. RELATED: Why every home should have Narcan Gov. Greg Abbott announced on March 26, 2025, the launch of a new interactive website that allows users to locate where Narcan is available for free or to purchase. This new tool, run by the Texas Department of State Health Services, is a part of the statewide 'One Pill Kills' campaign launched in 2022 in an effort to prevent fentanyl overdose deaths in Texas. NARCAN locations through the new tool include the following, as provided by Abbott's office: Type of site (e.g., community health clinics, recovery support services, vending machines) Hours of location Phone number Website Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Olney PD to host free Narcan trainings
OLNEY (KFDX/KJTL) — The Olney Police Department is hosting free Narcan trainings that are open to the public on Thursday, March 27 at 11 a.m. and noon. Narcan is an opioid overdose reversal agent. On average, 224 people died of an opioid overdose each day of 2022 in the United States. Chief Birbeck of the Olney Police Department wants to do his part to lower that number. The training will take place at the Olney Civic Center. Each class is expected to take 45 minutes and attendees will leave with free doses of Narcan they can keep with them. Chief Birbeck asks that everyone who wants to attend RSVP to him via email at dbirbeck@ If you or a loved one are suffering from substance addiction and seeking help, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-HELP. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
