Frederick Ryan, Chief of Police
112 Mystic St.
Arlington, MA 02474
For Immediate Release
Friday, June 24, 2016
Contact: Captain Richard Flynn, PIO
Office: 781-316-3907
Cell: 781-844-1224
Email: rflynn@town.arlington.ma.us
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan Honored During Fox 25 Zip Trip
Police Department Addiction Outreach Initiative Highlighted by Local News Team and Community Partners
ARLINGTON — During its first Zip Trip of the 2016 season, Fox 25 News honored Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan as the “Hometown Hero” for his 16 years of leadership as chief of the Arlington Police Department and, more recently, his overseeing of the department’s nationally-cited Arlington Outreach Initiative.
The program, launched last summer, seeks to reduce the stigma and shame associated with addiction by pairing police with healthcare workers to reach out to those suffering from a substance use disorder and offering them treatment and options for recapturing their lives.
In accepting the award, Chief Ryan sought to draw the spotlight away from himself and onto the work being done every day by members of the Police Department.
“This award is a reflection of the great work being done every day by the men and women of the Arlington Police Department, from dispatchers all the way up to the command staff,” Chief Ryan said, “We simply listened to our community. Addiction is not a crime, and people suffering from this disease need treatment and compassion as part of a long-term recovery process.”
The award was presented during an interview between Chief Ryan and Fox 25’s Gene Lavanchy and was co-sponsored by Digital Federal Credit Union.
Fox 25’s morning news crew spent the entire morning in Arlington on Friday, profiling local businesses, restaurants, and youth programs that make the community special. The 10-week segment takes the crew all around eastern Massachusetts, culminating Aug. 26 when they return to the area to visit Burlington.
Click here to view the segment featuring Chief Ryan.
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