Westbrook police offered words of advice on the proper disposal of hypodermic needles after one was found Thursday morning in downtown Westbrook.

Wearing a black leather glove, Officer Inger Cyr of Westbrook Police picked up a hypodermic needle after it was discovered near the downtown bus stop on Main Street. The needle was uncovered after fallen leaves had been blown.

Cyr placed the needle in a specially designed plastic container and delivered the needle to the city’s rescue department for disposal.

The needle was capped, leading Cyr to believe it might have belonged to a diabetic. “Usually IV drug users don’t cap them,” she said.

She said people finding a needle, if it’s capped, could place it themselves in an empty plastic soda bottle. “Call us,” Cyr said, “we’ll come and dispose of it.”

Jimmy Webster of Westbrook Public Services said needles are often found near the municipal parking lot off Ash Street in the downtown.

A passerby pushing a baby in a buggy on the sidewalk behind the bus stop told Cyr that he’s been dumping needles he’s found in the sewer. Needles aren’t to be thrown in the sewer or in the trash, Cyr said.

Cutline (needle 4) (needle 2)