Chief Scott Allen

East Bridgewater Police, EB HOPE Introducing Naloxbox Program at Local Businesses

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East Bridgewater Police Department
Scott Allen, Chief of Police
153 Central St.
East Bridgewater, MA 02333

For Immediate Release

Friday, July 5, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

East Bridgewater Police, EB HOPE Introducing Naloxbox Program at Local Businesses

EAST BRIDGEWATER — Chief Scott Allen and the East Bridgewater Police Department would like to notify residents that the department and local non-profit EB HOPE are partnering with local businesses to provide increased public access to the overdose-reversing drug naloxone.

Three East Bridgewater businesses have signed up to participate in the Naloxbox program, which involves installing a medical box on a wall inside of each business, containing doses of naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, and instructions on how to administer the drug if someone is overdosing.

The businesses who are currently participating in the new program are Lifestyle Vape, 626 Bedford St.; Vape Solutions, 687 N. Bedford St.; and Hi-Lo Gas, 475 Bedford Street. Any East Bridgewater business owners who are interested in having a Naloxbox installed in their business should contact Sgt. Bill Patterson at [email protected] or by calling 508-378-7223.

“Last year in Plymouth County alone there were 121 overdose deaths reported to have occurred within the county, with a total of 153 Plymouth County residents fatally overdosing throughout the state. One overdose death is one too many and our department is working every day to find ways to combat the ongoing opioid crisis,” Chief Allen said. “In order to increase the accessibility of Narcan, we hope to see many businesses participate in the Naloxbox program, and we will eventually be looking to expand the program to town-owned and operated buildings as well.”

Though East Bridgewater Police and EB HOPE have seen more and more residents seeking treatment recently, East Bridgewater had four suspected fatal overdoses last year, the same number as 2017.

On a more positive note, East Bridgewater saw nearly a 50 percent increase of at-risk persons seeking help through Plymouth County Outreach’s (PCO) proactive model. An at-risk person is someone who self-identifies to the police department or is referred by a family member or loved one for treatment assistance from East Bridgewater’s PCO Outreach Team. The outreach team includes a plainclothes outreach police officer and certified recovery coach. The outreach team connects these at-risk individuals with treatment options, prior to an overdose incident occurring.

“Despite more individuals seeking treatment and assistance through the program, the department continues to see people struggling with substance use disorders and there is still a lot of work to do,” Chief Allen said. “The Naloxbox program is an innovative way to help make naloxone more readily available to the general public. We can’t thank Susan Silva and the EB HOPE/PCO HOPE Board for their continued volunteer commitment to helping those struggling with substance use disorders as well as assisting their family members and loved ones.”

Each Naloxbox unit contains at least one dose of 4mg nasal naloxone (Narcan), nitrile gloves and a face mask. Each cabinet is labeled on the sides and front to indicate that it is an Overdose Emergency Unit. The Naloxbox also includes instruction manuals providing step-by-step details about how to administer Narcan in the event of an overdose.

In addition, each business or property owner that participates in the program will be trained in overdose recognition, Narcan administration and CPR.

In order to implement a safe and responsible Naloxbox program, the East Bridgewater Police Department has established and maintains a professional affiliation with a Medical Control Physician (MCP) who will provide medical oversight over its use and administration. The MCP has the discretion make recommendations regarding the policy, oversight, and administration of the nasal naloxone program developed and implemented by the police department. East Bridgewater’s MCP is Brockton’s Signature Healthcare, Dr. Daniel Muse, who is also a Chiefs Advisory Board member for PCO.

Funding for the Naloxbox program comes to the EBPD through EB HOPE. For the second year in a row, EB HOPE has received earmarked funds from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to be used on initiatives to support the organization and its community partners, like the East Bridgewater Police.

Naloxbox is a Rhode Island-based non-profit that works with police departments, communities and businesses to install the medical boxes in various locations. There are currently over 50 Naloxboxes installed throughout Rhode Island.

To learn more about the Naloxbox program, please visit the organization’s website www.naloxbox.org.

Chief Allen would like to remind residents to always call 911 in the event of an overdose and to get the overdose victim emergency medical help as soon as possible. It is critically important to call 911 for all overdoses because it has been proven to save lives. The Massachusetts Good Samaritan Law encourages friends, family, or bystanders to assist people having an overdose and to seek emergency medical assistance. The law protects victims and those who call 911 for help from charge, prosecution and conviction for possession or use of controlled substances.

More information about the Good Samaritan Law can be found the state’s website.

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East Bridgewater Police Department Hosts R.A.D. Training at High School

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East Bridgewater Police Department
Scott Allen, Chief of Police
153 Central St.
East Bridgewater, MA 02333

For Immediate Release

Thursday, June 13, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

East Bridgewater Police Department Hosts R.A.D. Training at High School

EAST BRIDGEWATER — Chief Scott Allen is pleased to announce that the East Bridgewater Police Department successfully hosted its first-ever Rape Aggression and Defense (R.A.D.) class for female high school seniors that concluded this week.

Twelve high school seniors completed the 12-hour course at East Bridgewater Jr./Sr. High School. The last of five classes was held on Tuesday, June 11.

East Bridgewater Police School Resource Officers Cecelia Cacciatore and Tallitha Connor, who are both certified R.A.D. instructors, led the women-only class, which featured classroom discussion and self-defense techniques for women of all abilities. The instructors focused on risk awareness and avoidance.

“Being proactive and taking the initiative to learn self-defense says a lot about a woman and that’s why I strongly encourage women to reach out to us if they would like to take the class,” Officer Cacciatore said. “The best advice I can give to women to protect themselves is to be confident and use their voice when they are in an uncomfortable situation. The more aware they are of their surroundings and the more they develop plans for those scary ‘what if’ moments, the better chance they have to survive an attack.”

On the last day of class, students were given the opportunity to utilize the skills they learned and participate in voluntary dynamic training scenarios designed to represent realistic encounters that require avoiding confrontation, escaping from a scene, or defending from a physical attack.

After completing the course, one of the instructors signed the manuals that were given to the students to signify they had successfully finished the program.

“Officer Cacciatore and Officer Connor did a fantastic job teaching the R.A.D. course and educating some of our town’s young women about ways they can protect themselves before they head off to college or the workforce,” Chief Allen said. “This R.A.D. course was another example of the innovative collaboration between
the police department and East Bridgewater School District, bringing a multitude
of initiatives and resources to our student population.”

Since the EBPD R.A.D. course was completed, Officer Cacciatore has already been contacted by numerous residents, mothers and students who would like to participate in a future class. Officer Cacciatore will be working to setup another R.A.D. session and the course will be announced once the details are finalized.

The R.A.D. curriculum is taught at colleges, universities, municipal law enforcement agencies and various community organizations internationally. To date, more than 900,000 women have participated in the program since its inception in 1989.

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East Bridgewater Police Charge Man with Illegal Possession of Assault Rifle, Pistol

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East Bridgewater Police Department
Scott Allen, Chief of Police
153 Central St.
East Bridgewater, MA 02333

For Immediate Release

Friday, April 12, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

East Bridgewater Police Charge Man with Illegal Possession of Assault Rifle, Pistol

EAST BRIDGEWATER — Chief Scott Allen reports that the East Bridgewater Police Department charged a man with illegally possessing two firearms after searching the man’s home while investigating an alleged unarmed robbery.

JOSHUA ZUKOWSKI, AGE 19, OF EAST BRIDGEWATER was charged with:

  • Possession of a Firearm Without a FID Card (Two Counts)
  • Unlicensed Possession of an Assault Weapon
  • Improper Storage of a Firearm Near a Minor
  • Improper Storage of a Large Capacity Firearm Near a Minor
  • Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device
  • Felony Possession of a Firearm With a Defaced Serial Number (Two Counts)
  • Possession of Ammunition Without a FID Card
  • Minor in Possession of Alcohol

At approximately 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 10, East Bridgewater Police received a report from the Bridgewater Police Department to be on the lookout for a green 2007 Audi A6 sedan being driven by ZUKOWSKI. Police had probable cause to arrest ZUKOWSKI for an alleged unarmed robbery in Bridgewater.

ZUKOWSKI is known to police and was out on bail after being arrested by East Bridgewater Police in October on several gun and drug charges.

After receiving the report from Bridgewater Police Wednesday, East Bridgewater officers went to ZUKOWSKI’S home at 206 South St. There, they found ZUKOWSKI sitting in the passenger’s seat of the Audi sedan with a female driver and a female passenger.

ZUKOWSKI was placed under arrest without incident. He was transported to the Bridgewater Police station to be booked on charges originating by Bridgewater Police.

Through the investigation into the Bridgewater unarmed robbery, police had reason to believe that ZUKOWSKI may be in possession of a firearm.

The officers went to ZUKOWSKI’S home and conducted a search for weapons.  Officers secured the residence and a search warrant was obtained by East Bridgewater Police Detective David Perrault.

In the search of the bedroom officers located a loaded .22 caliber Ruger handgun in a dresser drawer. The gun had its serial number defaced.

Also located and seized in ZUKOWSKI’S bedroom was a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 assault rifle with its serial number defaced, a fully loaded 5.56mm 30-round magazine and a .22 caliber magazine loaded with nine rounds. Two bottles of alcohol were also confiscated from ZUKOWSKI’S vehicle.

Because ZUKOWSKI was already in the custody of the Bridgewater Police, East Bridgewater Police had a warrant issued for his arrest on the new charges.

He was arraigned in Brockton District Court on Thursday, April 11. His bail was set at $25,000. ZUKOWSKI was held on a probation violation due to the pending gun and drug case with the new charges being filed.

These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

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Video: State Rep. Alyson Sullivan Shares Personal Story of Domestic Violence with East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen

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East Bridgewater Police Department
Scott Allen, Chief of Police
153 Central St.
East Bridgewater, MA 02333

For Immediate Release

Friday, April 12, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

State Rep. Alyson Sullivan Shares Personal Story of Domestic Violence with East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen

Rep. Sullivan Speaks Publicly for the First Time about Her Domestic Abuse

EAST BRIDGEWATER — In a powerful on-camera interview with East Bridgewater Police Chief and OneVoiceEB advocate Scott Allen, Massachusetts State Rep. Alyson Sullivan spoke publicly for the first time about her physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her former boyfriend.

The two-part interview can be viewed here:

“I want to bring awareness to domestic violence, domestic violence survivors, sexual assault survivors and say that it can happen to anybody,” Rep. Sullivan said during the interview. “We grew up in a very great household. My mom and dad had a very loving relationship […] At the end of my sophomore year I met the man who would eventually become my abuser. I was about 15-years-old when I met him and it wasn’t until right before my 21st birthday that I was able to detach myself from him.”

As part of EB HOPE’s ongoing video series entitled “Down Addiction Avenue,” in partnership with the town school district and the OneVoiceEB campaign, Chief Allen sat down last month with Rep. Sullivan and her sister, Kelly Dwyer, who serves as the Executive Director of the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. They filmed two half-hour video segments where they discussed various domestic violence issues, what the East Bridgewater Police Department is doing to address those issues and what resources are available in Massachusetts for victims and their loved ones.

During the filming, Rep. Sullivan, bravely shared her own personal story of abuse in order to show women that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that help is out there. In November, Rep. Sullivan, from Abington, was elected to her first term in state office, representing the 7th Plymouth District, which includes East Bridgewater, Abington and Whitman.

“For so many years I thought I was in love with this man, that this man loved me and that he cared about me and it was just a cycle of abuse that started to escalate even more than just what you would think as cute and protecting,” Rep. Sullivan said. “It escalated to be more mental, emotional and then it became very much physical. I’m lucky to be here today sitting in front of you.”

Rep. Sullivan detailed how a relationship that started off feeling positive turned as her abuser became controlling and began to isolate her from family and friends.

” ‘I don’t like you hanging out with this person. I don’t like you hanging out with that person. You spend too much time with your family.’ And then it was, ‘You can’t see your family. If you’re going to see your family you need permission by me to go see your friends and family,’ ” she said. “In that little bit of control he kept getting, he knew he was getting away with even more.”

Dwyer spoke during the interview about having to witness her younger sister’s situation from the outside looking in and how she was actually angry with her, not knowing at the time the stigma of victim blaming in a situation like this.

“I was angry. I was angry with her and I was angry with how she was behaving towards me, towards my siblings, towards my parents, and that she kept going back to him and I couldn’t figure out why,” Dwyer said. “As you see on the surface, she’s a very strong individual and I think she’s significantly stronger than what she was before. But it’s just that mental and emotional abuse that broke her down.”

In December 2008, after an incident of abuse outside of a bank where the Abington Police were called, an Abington detective gave Alyson his direct phone number and told her to reach out when she needed to.

“On Jan. 1 [2009], after a very hell-like night, I really thought I was dying, the worst beating that I had ever received. I was strangled to the point where I passed out. I came to and I knew that if I continued in this relationship I’m not going to come out alive,” Rep. Sullivan said. “At that point it escalated to the point that he didn’t care that he was putting marks on my face. I had two black eyes. I had bite marks on my ears. Bite marks on my hands, and he didn’t care.”

That day, she said, her best friend picked her up to go to the mall and she told her everything and then she called the police detective and told him about her abuse.

Through reaching out to her friend and the police detective, and through many more tough months of restraining orders and court appearances, Alyson was able to get the help she needed and eventually broke free from the grip of her abuser.

“The support can really come from anybody,” Dwyer said. “Like a best friend, a police officer, a sibling. It really does take a village to support somebody that’s going through some really traumatic things to get them the help that they need.”

For Dwyer, in the state overall, significant progress has been made over the past decade when it comes to addressing domestic violence and that work continues through her role on the Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence.

“For both domestic violence and sexual assault it’s still under-reported,” Dwyer said. “And I feel like from when I started in this field to where everything is now, we’ve definitely made some tremendous strides. Even thinking about 10 years ago it was the stigma. It’s a stigma to talk about. It’s a stigma to be a victim and you put yourself in that situation and there was a lot of that victim blaming. A lot of that has shifted and now we are looking at holding perpetrators accountable, supporting survivors and looking away from the lens of using the term victim.

“I feel like we have a lot more to do though.”

Chief Allen is an appointed council member of the Military Veterans/Families work group of the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. The East Bridgewater Police Department, through its school resource officers, has collaborated with the East Bridgewater school district in addressing students about maintaining healthy relationships and the signs of unhealthy relationships. Last year the school district implemented the Botvin Life Skills Training (LST) curriculum, which is an evidence-based substance abuse and violence prevention program.

The EBPD also works closely with its local coalition partners EB Hope, led by Executive Director Susan Silva, the OneVoiceEB campaign and Plymouth County Outreach to address a variety of issues including substance use, domestic violence, mental health and social-emotional wellness.

Chief Allen offers his sincere gratitude to Rep. Sullivan for sharing her story and to Dwyer for giving her expertise and insight as an expert on domestic violence issues.

To view a list of national, statewide and regional domestic violence helplines, programs and organizations click here

To learn more about the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence click here

On the next episode of “Down Addiction Avenue” EB HOPE will be addressing Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders and help resources in concert with the OneVoiceEB campaign.

 

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