opioid crisis

Plymouth County Outreach Honored With National Community Policing Award

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Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-742-3922
Email: [email protected]

Plymouth County Outreach Honored With National Community Policing Award

ORLANDO, FLORIDA — The Police Chiefs of Plymouth County are pleased to announce that Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) was awarded the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Leadership in Community Policing Award Tuesday night.

Several PCO representatives were in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday to accept the award during the 2018 IACP Annual Conference and Exposition – including many Plymouth County police chiefs, District Attorney Timothy Cruz and Sheriff Deputy Superintendent James Muscato.

The Leadership in Community Policing Award recognizes outstanding community policing initiatives undertaken by law enforcement agencies across the world. The award is given to police agencies whose best practices in community policing utilize collaboration and partnerships to make their communities safer. PCO received the award for its continued, collaborative efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.

“Being recognized among our peer police chiefs from across the country and the world was truly an honor,” said East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen, who attended the event. “Plymouth County Outreach, and the collaborative approach we have taken with our partners in law enforcement, is truly helping to break down the stigma of addiction. It’s an honor to have our efforts and approach recognized as a success.”

The IACP Annual Banquet featured the formal swearing-in of the IACP president and board of officers and the presentation of the Leadership Awards. The a black-tie affair Tuesday night featured music and dancing in the ballroom of the Orange County Convention Center.

The IACP conference was held from Oct. 6-9 and was highlighted by a visit and speech from President Donald Trump on Monday, who heralded the efforts of law enforcement officers and stressed the importance of officer safety.

“We believe Plymouth County Outreach is a vital resource to the residents in our communities and it is our mission to continue to help those struggling with addiction,” said Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri, who also attended Tuesday’s ceremony. “Being honored with this award will only strengthen our approach and I look forward to seeing what PCO can accomplish in the future.”

Last week, PCO was awarded a $500,000 grant as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Program through the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant funds will allow PCO to hire two full-time program coordinators and will help to improve its data-collecting and data analyzing capabilities.

Plymouth County Outreach is an opioid prevention and recovery coalition made up of 27 municipal police departments in Plymouth County, along with the Bridgewater State University Police.

In addition to its partners, PCO has a Chiefs Advisory Board that includes Brockton Signature Healthcare’s Dr. Daniel Muse, South Shore Hospital’s Dr. Jason Tracy and Timothy Quigley, Plymouth Public Health Director Dr. Nathaniel Horowitz-Willis and Beth Israel Deaconess-Plymouth’s Dr. Alejandro Dan Mendoza.

About Plymouth County Outreach:

Plymouth County Outreach is a collaborative of police departments throughout Plymouth County led by the following chiefs: Abington Chief David Majenski, Bridgewater Chief Christopher Delmonte, Bridgewater State University Chief David Tillinghast, Brockton Chief John Crowley, Brockton Police Lt. Richard Linehan, Carver Chief Marc Duphily, Duxbury Chief Matthew Clancy, East Bridgewater Chief Scott Allen, Halifax Chief Ted Broderick, Hanover Chief Walter Sweeney, Hanson Chief Michael Miksch, Hingham Chief Glenn Olsson, Hull Chief John Dunn, Kingston Chief Maurice Splaine, Lakeville Chief Frank Alvihiera, Marion Chief John Garcia, Marshfield Chief Phillip Tavares, Mattapoisett Chief Mary Lyons, Middleboro Chief Joseph Perkins, Norwell Chief Ted Ross, Pembroke Chief Richard Wall, Plymouth Chief Michael Botieri, Plympton Chief Patrick Dillon, Rochester Chief Robert Small, Rockland Chief John Llewellyn, Scituate Chief Michael Stewart, Wareham Chief John Walcek, West Bridgewater Chief Victor Flaherty and Whitman Chief Scott D. Benton.

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Dover, Delaware Police Department Joins P.A.A.R.I. To Launch Addiction Recovery Initiative

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For Immediate Release

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-791-7627
Email: [email protected]

Dover, Delaware Police Department Joins P.A.A.R.I. To Launch Addiction Recovery Initiative

DOVER, Del. – Chief Paul M. Bernat announces that the Dover Police Department has partnered with the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.) to establish the department’s addiction recovery program, the ANGEL Program. Dover Police Department is P.A.A.R.I.’s first partner in Delaware, marking the program’s expansion into 25 states nationwide.

The department officially launched its program on June 30, modeling it after the Gloucester ANGEL Initiative. The ANGEL Program encourages residents seeking to overcome their addiction to simply walk into the police station, turn over their drugs and paraphernalia, and ask for help. This process will never result in criminal charges or penalties. Instead, they will be assigned a volunteer “angel” that is trained to provide encouragement and advice to help them on their road to recovery. Then, they will be placed into a drug treatment program regardless of their financial means or insurance coverage.

“It is a privilege to collaborate with such a groundbreaking organization,” Chief Bernat said. “P.A.A.R.I. erases the stigma associated with the disease of addiction and provides police departments with a greater variety of resources to help our communities. We look forward to the partnership and are honored to help P.A.A.R.I. reach 25 states.”

Joining with P.A.A.R.I. will give the Dover Police Department access to a nationwide network of treatment centers to offer recovery services to program participants. Additionally, the Dover Police have also partnered with Connections Community Support Programs to help those recovering from drug addiction find healthcare, affordable housing, and employment.

Chief Campanello and John Rosenthal, co-founders of P.A.A.R.I., are pleased to welcome the Dover Police Department to the growing list of law enforcement partners who have committed themselves to bridging the gap between police departments and those who suffer from the disease of addiction. They commend Chief Bernat and his staff for taking the necessary steps to help those who are suffering from addiction and for working to change the way law enforcement handles this devastating disease.

About P.A.A.R.I.

P.A.A.R.I. was started to support local police departments as they work with those struggling with the disease of addiction. Rather than arrest our way out of the problem of drug addiction, P.A.A.R.I. committed police departments:

  • Encourage opioid drug users to seek recovery
  • Help distribute life saving opioid blocking drugs to prevent and treat overdoses
  • Connect people suffering with opioid addiction with treatment programs and facilities
  • Provide resources to other police departments and communities that want to do more to fight the opioid addiction epidemic

P.A.A.R.I. was created by Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello and John Rosenthal to bridge the gap between police departments and those struggling with the disease of addiction. Since its founding, police departments in 25 states have joined as partners with the initiative.

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Gloucester ANGEL Initiative, P.A.A.R.I. Recognized in IACP Report

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PAARI_Logo_PUB_052815-06

P.A.A.R.I.
Leonard Campanello, Co-Founder
John Rosenthal, Co-founder & Chairman
One Bridge St., Suite #300
Newton, MA 02458

For Immediate Release

Monday, May 16, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Gloucester ANGEL Initiative, P.A.A.R.I. Recognized in IACP Report

GLOUCESTER — Police Chief Leonard Campanello and John Rosenthal, co-founders of the Police Assisted Addiction Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.), are pleased to announce that both P.A.A.R.I. and the Gloucester ANGEL Initiative were included in the latest International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) report, entitled “Addressing 21st Century Drug Issues: Law Enforcement’s Leadership Role.”

The report, which the IACP releases for its members worldwide, addresses law enforcement’s role in the opioid crisis currently sweeping the nation, suggesting that the most effective practices include identifying opioid addicts and diverting them to treatment programs.

The IACP then points to the Gloucester ANGEL Initiative, the first treatment diversion plan of its kind in the country. The report calls the initiative “a police approach that was based on human caring and addressing and solving the core addiction problem versus short-term punitive actions.” It then summarizes the program’s three-pronged approach to recovery: the department facilitates treatment, provides nasal narcan to those who cannot afford it, and works towards new state legislation relating to drug enforcement and treatment. 

“The IACP is the worldwide standard for police professionals and being included in their report as a model in how law enforcement can be effective in dealing with the opioid crisis is a great legitimization of the Gloucester Initiative and PAARI’s mission,” Chief Campanello said. “The voice of law enforcement has the ability to end the stigma of the disease of addiction and has an obligation to do so. While we recognize the need to continue to take action against those who deal misery and death on our streets, we must equally acknowledge that all those suffering from addiction are victims of the illicit drug trade and the overprescribing of pain medications. They should not be further hurt by arrest or incarceration. Immediate and sustainable care for every person suffering from addiction is the goal, and we intend on continuing to do everything we can to support that goal.”

“The Gloucester ANGEL Initiative is saving lives everyday and it’s replicable in every community struggling with the epidemic of opioid addiction,” Rosenthal said. “P.A.A.R.I. now has over 100 police department and 250 treatment center partners across the United States. We’ve created a national model for law enforcement to be a much need entry point into treatment and it’s great to be recognized by the IACP.”

The IACP is a dynamic organization that serves as the professional voice of law enforcement, addressing cutting edge issues confronting law enforcement through advocacy, programs and research, as well as training and other professional services.

About the Gloucester Angel Initiative:

The Gloucester Addiction Initiative, started by police Chief Leonard Campanello, seeks to provide treatment to those struggling with the disease of addiction instead of putting them behind bars. The police department works with several local treatment centers and clinics to place them in recovery programs instead of in the hands of law enforcement. When an addict walks into the police station and asks for help getting into a rehab facility, the department couples that person with an “angel,” a volunteer that helps guide the individual through the process. The participant is evaluated, their needs are assessed and they are fast tracked into a local detox program.

About P.A.A.R.I.

P.A.A.R.I. was started to support local police departments as they work with those struggling with the disease of addiction. Rather than arrest our way out of the problem of drug addiction, P.A.A.R.I. committed police departments to:

  • Encourage opioid drug users to seek recovery
  • Help distribute life saving opioid blocking drugs to prevent and treat overdoses
  • Connect people suffering with opioid addiction with treatment programs and facilities
  • Provide resources to other police departments and communities that want to do more to fight the opioid addiction epidemic

P.A.A.R.I. was created by Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello and John Rosenthal to bridge the gap between police departments and those struggling with the disease of addiction. Since its founding, police departments in 24 states have joined as partners with the initiative.

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Hull Police to Co-host Viewing of Film About Youth Prescription Drug Abuse

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Hull Police Department
Acting Chief Robert C. Sawtelle
1 School Street
Hull, MA 02045

For Immediate Release

Friday, April 22, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Hull Police to Co-host Viewing of Film About Youth Prescription Drug Abuse

HULL — Acting Police Chief Robert C. Sawtelle announces that the Hull Police Department, in conjunction with the Hull Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Addiction (HAPSA), will co-hullhost a screening of the film, “If Only” next week.

The event will be held on Wednesday, April 27 at 7 p.m. at Hull High School, 180 Main St., in the auditorium.  

Following the film, attendees are invited to stay for a discussion with the film’s producer James Wahlberg, Executive Director of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation. Residents who are in recovery and family members of overdose victims will also share their personal stories after the film.

“The goal of this event is to continue to educate our community, especially our youth, about the dangerous reality of prescription drug abuse,” Acting Chief Sawtelle said. “We hope that this event will be well-attended and that residents will leave with a better understanding of addiction and how it has affected our community.”

Reserve your free ticket to the event here.

For more information on this event, contact the Hull Police Department at 781-925-1212.

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