In a startling investigation by The Associated Press, it's been revealed that at least 15 people died in Texas following encounters with police that involved medical personnel administering powerful sedatives. This chilling pattern unfolded over the past decade and stretches across the state, raising serious questions about the interplay between law enforcement and medical interventions outside hospital settings.

The investigation, which extended from 2012 to 2021, was unable to definitively pinpoint how significantly the sedatives contributed to the deaths. Most of the Texas deaths occurred in the Dallas area, with others spanning from Odessa to Austin to Galveston. In one case from 2018, a man quickly received two doses of the sedative midazolam after being restrained by officers in Bastrop. Midazolam was reportedly the most common sedative used in such incidents, according to Spectrum News.

The AP investigation also found that over 1,000 deaths nationwide involved police using less than lethal force or weaponry such as Tasers, not inherently designed to be fatal. However, medical officials indicated that police force caused or contributed to about half of these fatalities.

Medical professionals often administer these sedatives, like ketamine or midazolam, with the notion to quickly subdue individuals who become combative, commonly due to drug intoxication or mental health crises. However, Eric Jaeger, an emergency medical services educator, warned, as per CBS Austin article, "Now that we have better information, we know that it can present a significant danger regardless of the sedative agent used."

This investigation comes as part of an ongoing effort by The Associated Press in collaboration with FRONTLINE (PBS) and the Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism to uncover and understand the use of force in policing, and its documentation will prominently feature in an upcoming documentary titled "Documenting Police Use Of Force," set to premiere on April 30 on PBS.