GLOUCESTER — Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I) Co-Founder and Chairman John Rosenthal and Executive Director Allie Hunter McDade are pleased to announce that Gil Kerlikowske, former director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, has joined the organization’s Board of Directors.

Kerlikowske is a decorated law enforcement veteran who served as the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy from 2009-2014, a cabinet-level position. In that role he initiated the President’s first Strategy on Prescription Drugs and authored the President’s National Drug Control Strategy.

“Having spent my career in law enforcement and crafting drug policy, I am honored to join P.A.A.R.I and support the work this organization is doing to fight the nationwide opioid epidemic,” Kerlikowske said. “The opioid problem is constantly evolving, and law enforcement has emerged as a true leader, willing to innovate and think beyond conventional practices, in this battle.”

Kerlikowske’s broad scope of experience includes serving as Seattle’s chief of police from 2000-2009, Buffalo’s police commissioner from 1994-1998, and a two-year term as deputy director of President William J. Clinton’s Community Oriented Policing Services.

Kerlikowske also holds the distinction of being the only Senate-confirmed commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, where he oversaw 60,000 employees at 338 ports of entry, and 800 employees overseas.

He also served twice as president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, which is comprised of the largest law enforcement agencies in the United States and Canada.

“Gil has been one of my heroes and I am incredibly proud to welcome him to the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative. Gil brings a breadth of experience in the highest levels of government and law enforcement across the nation. He’s respected across the board and he’ll be tremendously helpful in our efforts to expand access to treatment through large and small police departments,” Rosenthal said. “Gil knows just about everyone in Washington, including members of Congress as well as law enforcement and elected officials across the Country. Gil’s broad and, in many ways, unparalleled access and understanding of the issues associated with the opioid epidemic will supercharge P.A.A.R.I’s reach and effectiveness in crafting and implementing life-saving policy.”

Added Hunter McDade: “We’re incredibly fortunate to add someone with Gil’s hands-on experience with both law enforcement and drug policy to our organization. I am confident that he will make an immediate and significant impact that will help a lot of people who’ve been affected by the opioid epidemic.”

Kerlikowske will also serve on P.A.A.R.I’s law enforcement council.

About the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.):

P.A.A.R.I. police departments share a common mission: encourage opioid drug users to seek recovery, help distribute life saving opioid blocking drugs to prevent and treat overdoses, connect those struggling with the disease of addiction with treatment programs and facilities and provide resources to other police departments and communities that want to do more to fight the opioid epidemic.

In just over a year, P.A.A.R.I. has grown into a network of more than 200 police departments in 28 states and over 300 treatment centers to secure fully-funded scholarships for participants with or without insurance. Learn more at paariusa.org.

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