For Immediate Release

Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

*Media Advisory*

Governor Baker to Give Opening Remarks at Inaugural P.A.A.R.I. National Law Enforcement Summit 

More than 200 Leaders from Around the Country to Attend

GLOUCESTER — The Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.) is pleased to welcome law enforcement leaders from throughout the nation next week at its first National Law Enforcement Summit.

The event, which is the first of its kind, will bring more than 200 leaders from 27 states and the District of Columbia to Boston. It is completely open to press, and a schedule of speaking programs is attached below.

WHO: 

• Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker
• Sandro Galea, Dean, Boston University School of Public Health
• John Rosenthal, P.A.A.R.I. Co-Founder and Co-Chairman
• Frederick Ryan, P.A.A.R.I. Co-Chairman, Police Council Chairman and Arlington Police Chief
• Allie Hunter McDade, P.A.A.R.I. Executive Director
• P.A.A.R.I. National Police Council Members
• More than 200 law enforcement leaders

WHEN:

• Tuesday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE:

Boston University School of Medicine

72 East Concord St. (14th floor), Boston

WHAT:

The P.A.A.R.I. National Law Enforcement Summit is a groundbreaking event that will connect law enforcement leaders from around the country who have changed their approach to the opioid epidemic in their communities and taken the lead in preventing overdose deaths and providing access to addiction treatment and recovery.

Over 200 police leaders from agencies of all sizes will be in attendance at the summit, which will include a keynote address from Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

The summit will empower law enforcement agencies to outline their successes and challenges in combating the nationwide opioid epidemic, and will serve as a platform for the sharing of ideas on how to build upon, or launch, a pre-arrest addiction and recovery referral program in order to provide those struggling with addiction with the help they need.

MEDIA LOGISTICS:

There will be opportunities for television, radio and print/online media interviews, and staff will be on-site to assist media. Law enforcement leaders from the following states will be in attendance and are generally available for interviews: Arizona, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. 

Affiliates may be interested in drawing from their local stations. Boston has NBC (NBC Boston/New England Cable News and Telemundo), CBS (WBZ), Hearst (ABC affiliate WCVB), Sunbeam (WHDH) and Cox Media (Fox affiliate WFXT) television news broadcast stations. 

SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, December 5

8:30 a.m. — Networking Breakfast

9 a.m. — Welcome from Chief Frederick Ryan, P.A.A.R.I. Co-Chairman, Arlington, Mass.

9:20 a.m. — Welcome from Sandro Galea, Dean, BU School of Public Health

9:30 a.m.  — Welcome from John Rosenthal, P.A.A.R.I. Co-Founder and Co-Chairman

9:45 a.m. — Introduction of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker from Chief Frederick Ryan and John Rosenthal

10 a.m. — Remarks from Gov. Charlie Baker

10:15 a.m. — Opioid Epidemic and P.A.A.R.I. 101

• Allie Hunter McDade, P.A.A.R.I. Executive Director, Boston
• John Rosenthal, P.A.A.R.I. Co-Founder and Co-Chairman, Gloucester
• Chief Frederick Ryan, P.A.A.R.I. Co-Chairman, Arlington

11 a.m. — Intake Programs 101

• Lt. Jeremiah Nicastro, Gloucester
• Chief Robbie Moulton, Scarborough, Maine
• Sgt. Brittney Garrett, Jeffersontown, Kentucky
• Katie Donovan, Hope Not Handcuffs, Macomb County, Michigan

Noon — Networking Lunch

12:30 p.m. — Outreach Programs 101

• Chief Frederick Ryan, Arlington
• Sgt. Mike Braley, Everett, Washington
• Dan Cortez, Community Engagement Specialist, Chelsea
• Kelly Pompilio, Police Social Worker, Alexandria, Kentucky
• Chief Ed Walsh, Taunton

1:30 p.m. — How do we know this is working?

• Dr. Davida Schiff, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Sean Varano, Kelley Research Associates and Roger Williams University
• Tomoko Udo, University of Albany School of Public Health
• Capt. Dave Batchelor, Chelsea

2:15 p.m. — How do we include the recovery community?

• Tito Rodriguez, P.A.A.R.I. Care Advocate & Outreach Worker, Gloucester
• Cody Desmond, P.A.A.R.I. AmeriCorps Recovery Coach, Lynn
• Steve Lesnikoski, P.A.A.R.I. Care Advocate & Outreach Worker, Essex County
• Margie Taylor, P.A.A.R.I. AmeriCorps Program Coordinator, Burlington

3:15 p.m. — Spotlight on Essex County Sheriff’s Department

• Sheriff Kevin Coppinger
• Gary Barrett, Community Relations Coordinator
• Darya Maslova, Assistant Director of Programs

3:45 p.m. — Closing Remarks from Chief Frederick Ryan

Wednesday, December 6

8:30 a.m. — Networking Breakfast

9 a.m. — Welcome from Chief Danny Langloss, P.A.A.R.I. Police Council Member, Dixon, Illinois

9:30 a.m. — Remarks from Gil Kerlikowske on criminal justice research on the opioid crisis

10 a.m. —  Remarks from Sarah Gordon Chiaramida, Massachusetts Association of Health Plans

10:15 a.m. —  How do we make an evidence-based treatment referral?

• Dr. Alexander Walley, Boston Medical Center
• Dr. Sarah Wakeman, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Dr. Shorta Yuasa, Lahey Health Behavioral Services

11 a.m. — Spotlight on Plymouth County Outreach

• Chief Scott Allen, East Bridgewater
• Chief Michael Botieri, Plymouth
• Lt. Richard Linehan, Brockton
• Hillary Dubois Farquharson, Brockton Area Opioid Abuse Prevention Collaborative
• Sarah Cloud,  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Noon — Networking Lunch

12:30 p.m. —  Spotlight on Anne Arundel Safe Stations

• Maryland State’s Attorney Wes Adams
• Lt. Steve Thomas
• Jennifer Corbin, Director of Crisis Response

1:15 p.m. — How do we form behavioral health partnerships?

• Chief Tom Bashore, Nashville, North Carolina
• Amanda Flory, Social Worker, Nashville, North Carolina
• Chief Robert Bongiorno, Bedford
• Alia Toran-Burrell, Clinician, Central Middlesex County

2 p.m. — Spotlight on New England HIDTA

• David Kelley, Deputy Director
• Bryan Volpe, Drug Intelligence Officer, Rhode Island
• Margaret Hester, Public Health Analyst
• James Cormier, Drug Intelligence Officer

2:30 p.m. — How do I start a program in my community?

• Chief Tim Lentz, Covington Louisiana
• Chief Joseph Solomon, Methuen
• Sergeant Pat Greenhill, Berea, Ohio
• Captain Greg Skehan, Burlington

3:45 p.m. — Closing Remarks Chief Langloss and Chief Ryan

Quotes:

“The hundreds of law enforcement agencies that have joined P.A.A.R.I. in the fight against addiction have made a tremendous impact and saved numerous lives,” P.A.A.R.I. Co-Founder and Chairman John Rosenthal said. “This summit will give police leaders from communities large and small a chance to share ideas and learn from one another so that they can continue to build upon their success in the fight to end the opioid epidemic.”

“The Commonwealth of Massachusetts relies on the innovative techniques and strategies developed by our local law enforcement officials to fight against the opioid epidemic,” Gov. Charlie Baker said. “We are glad the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative chose to host a summit focused on bringing the best and the brightest in law enforcement together and we look forward to the progress this group can help us make on prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery.”

“Law enforcement has played a critical role in responding to the nationwide opioid epidemic, and we understand that recovery happens in the community,” Chief Ryan said. “I am very encouraged by the projected turnout for the inaugural P.A.A.R.I. National Law Enforcement Summit, and I look forward to sharing our experiences and learning the best practices of my colleagues from around the nation.”

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