A Northern California deputy who received life-saving treatment for what officials thought was unintentional exposure to fentanyl actually ingested the drug of his own free will after believing it to be methamphetamine, an investigation found.
On Oct. 24, 2023, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Deputy Marvin Morales was found unresponsive by one of his colleagues in the restroom of the Central Division. Responding officers revived him with naloxone for suspected narcotics exposure and he survived.
The incident prompted an investigation that was discreetly released by SCSO. According to a 468-page Internal Affairs report, Morales seized what he thought was methamphetamine and a glass pipe during a stop of a “suspicious person” and kept it. While on duty and in full uniform, he smoked the drug in the restroom of the Sheriff’s Office. The substance turned out to be fentanyl.
“I can never trust him as to when he makes any contact, finds narcotics, finds money, finds anything,” one SCSO official, whose full name was redacted, said in the investigative report. “It is a horrible embarrassment across the law enforcement community. Our individual actions are not individual. They affect us not just as an organization but they affect us as an entire occupation, as we’ve seen in previous history.”
Many of Morales’ colleagues went on record with their dismay of the incident, and investigators recommended that he be terminated.
“That fact that something has potentially occurred on duty involving evidence and drugs, I’d say it erodes the public’s trust in us if it was to get out,” a deputy whose name was also redacted said in the report.
Morales reportedly blamed the incident on his battle with depression and suggested the overdose was an attempted suicide; however, a drug test revealed he was a “chronic user.” He attempted to resign from his position as a deputy but was ultimately fired.
“This individual’s employment was terminated by Sheriff Cooper in February of 2024,” said Deputy Amar Gandhi. “He has been decertified by California POST, which means he cannot work as a peace officer anywhere in the state of California.”
He added, “Matters of misconduct require thorough investigation to ensure accountability. Every employee, like every citizen, is entitled to due process. Investigations into these matters are very detailed, time-consuming, and resource-intensive. Ultimately, we are committed to getting it right. This is due process at work.”
