Jones County officials say they believe a woman is alive today because of the quick thinking of two deputies.

Deputy Xavier Thigpen and K9 Handler/Deputy James Bell responded to a report of a possible overdose with CPR in progress in western Jones County on Friday afternoon.

Upon arrival, a check of the adult female’s vital signs indicated a very faint pulse and one to two breaths per minute. Both deputies were able to use department-issued nasal Narcan and administered a total of three doses as life-saving efforts continued.

EMServ Ambulance Service medics arrived and the patient was administered advanced medical care and her vital signs were restored prior to transport by ambulance to South Central Regional Medical Center.

Thigpen is a former professional football player with the Green Bay Packers and previously served as a patrol officer with the Laurel Police Department. Bell is a K-9 handler with K9 partner Balder.

JCSD personnel are assigned nasal Narcan provided on a grant from the Mississippi Department of Mental Health and have recorded over a dozen saves in the past twelve months.