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The editorial team works independently of the UT newsroom, but adheres to similar ethical standards. We base our editorials and recommendations on reporting, interviews and rigorous debates, and we strive for accuracy, fairness and courtesy in our section. Disagree? Let us know.
Last week the Sheriff’s Department released a video stating that Deputy David Faiive suffered a fentanyl overdose after handling illegal narcotics in a parking lot in San Marcos on July 3.
Problem is, Sheriff Bill Gore, not a doctor, concluded that Faiive had overdosed. And the problem is, Undersheriff Kelly Martinez credited a MP who administered Faiive naloxone to having saved his life, but health experts say casual exposure to fentanyl would not lead to the reaction Faiive experienced.
Martinez said the video sparked internal discussions about the workout, but one has to wonder about the guy. Health experts said the sheriff’s department was wrong, encouraging misinformation, confusion and false narration. Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for the video to be withdrawn.
This is important as it could reduce the chance of law enforcement officers and people in general trying to help those who have overdosed. Another problem is that the San Diego Union-Tribune’s initial coverage of the incident was based on characterizations by sheriff officials rather than medical professionals. Incidents like this one illustrate why trust in law enforcement and the news media is eroding.
Gore has since released more information on the matter after speaking surprise about the pushback. But the questions about what happened to Faiive have rather grown. Analysis of the New York Times video released on Wednesday found that he showed no reaction when another MP gave him naloxone – which would only happen if he had no opioids in his body.
The sheriff’s department needs to provide as much transparency as possible going forward and publish Faiive’s unedited video and medical tests after his breakdown. Already terrifying, fentanyl has weakened or killed tens of thousands of Americans. But its dangers should be precisely described.
Subsequent UT coverage addressed the criticism directly. So must the sheriff’s department.
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