opioid

Plymouth County Outreach Featured in National Policing Magazine

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Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-742-3922
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Plymouth County Outreach Featured in National Policing Magazine

East Bridgewater and Plymouth Police Chiefs Help Pen Article in The Police Chief Magazine

TO READ THE ARTICLE CLICK HERE

EAST BRIDGEWATER — Chief Scott Allen is pleased to announce that Plymouth County Outreach was recently featured in the March issue of The Police Chief Magazine.

The nationally distributed magazine is a product of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). The entire March issue was dedicated to the topic of current issues involving drugs.

The 3,700-word article entitled “Leading a Community Solution to a Community Problem” was penned by Chief Allen and Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri, with the assistance of Stonehill College assistant criminology professor Pamela Kelley, Roger Williams University criminal justice professor Sean Varano and Patrick Nevins, assistant director of grants and special projects in the Plymouth District Attorney’s Office.

The article provides an in-depth look at the opioid epidemic that local law enforcement has been dealing with for more than a decade. It highlights the tactics, partnerships and ongoing efforts to find solutions that help save lives and offer substance users the help and recovery options they need.

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

PCO has partnered with healthcare and treatment and recovery agencies, along with local coalitions, faith-based organizations and four of the five hospitals in the county, to help overcome the opioid epidemic in Plymouth County.

“Having Plymouth County Outreach and our county collaboration featured in the magazine is an honor and a privilege. It has taken a lot of dedication and hard work by our coalition to get PCO where it is today,” Chief Allen said.

Said Chief Botieri, “While we don’t profess to have all of the answers, it is great to be able to use the magazine as a platform to share what we have learned with law enforcement members across the country. This epidemic is something we are all dealing with.”

TO READ THE ARTICLE CLICK HERE

About Plymouth County Outreach:

All 28 Plymouth County police chiefs have committed to working across the county in proactively assisting those impacted by the opioid crisis. As PCO has evolved, since expanding in December 2016, its organizational structure has grown to include an advisory board. The board is made up of 12 police chiefs and also includes three physicians from South Shore Hospital, Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital and Plymouth’s Board of Health and an executive from South Shore Hospital. This group has been meeting regularly to further develop and enhance PCO’s goals.

The chiefs and advisory board are pleased to announce that Governor Charlie Baker, in his FY’19 budget, has earmarked $100,000 in funds to support PCO as a pilot program, with the goal of hiring a full-time program coordinator. The advisory board has also worked to extend its partnerships with leaders in the healthcare, public health, treatment and recovery fields to further PCO’s mission. PCO’s board has worked to extend partnerships with neighboring county’s as well, working to open lines of communication using its multi-jurisdictional approach with neighbor cities and towns.

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, 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 Lincoln Miller, 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 Paul Magee, Rockland Chief John Llewellyn, Scituate Chief Michael Stewart, Wareham Chief Kevin Walsh, West Bridgewater Chief Victor Flaherty and Whitman Chief Scott D. Benton.

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

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PAARI_Logo_PUB_052815-06

P.A.A.R.I.
John Rosenthal, Co-founder & Chairman
186 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

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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*MEDIA ADVISORY* Whitman Hanson WILL Coalition to Host Meeting on Opioid Abuse Prevention

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Whitman Police Department
Scott D. Benton, Chief of Police
20 Essex St
Whitman, MA 02382

For Immediate Release

Monday, Nov. 13, 2017

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

*MEDIA ADVISORY*

Whitman Hanson WILL Coalition to Host Meeting on Opioid Abuse Prevention

WHITMAN — Police Chief Scott D. Benton announces that Whitman Hanson WILL is hosting an upcoming forum for community members on the ongoing opioid epidemic, and all are welcome.

WHEN:

Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m.

WHERE:

Hanson Public Library, 132 Maquan St.

WHAT:

The meeting will include representatives from the Whitman and Hanson police and fire departments, Whitman–Hanson school system, local community outreach programs and the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office. It will be an opportunity for residents of the towns to have a conversation with officials and talk about what efforts are being done to treat and prevent opioid addiction.

“The goal is to get everybody together to get the word out there about the coalition and the resources that are available to residents,” Police Chief Scott D. Benton said. “The opioid epidemic has left no community untouched, and we encourage community members who have been affected by this disease to attend.”

Overdose deaths in Massachusetts have increased from 560 in 2010 to an estimated 2,107 in 2016, according to the state Department of Public Health. In recent months, officials have warned of increased usage of fentanyl and carfentenil in the region and the dangers posed by using the powerful opioids that are significantly stronger than heroin.

For more information about the meeting, contact Amanda Sandoval at asandoval@hptc.org. Sandoval is the Assistant Director of Preventative Services for the High Point Treatment Center.

About Whitman Hanson WILL:

Whitman Hanson WILL is part of a regional coalition, the Brockton Area Opioid Abuse Prevention Collaborative, which works to promote advocacy and reduce the stigma associated with substance use disorders. Their mission is to provide opioid abuse and overdose prevention resources to the community through education, awareness and support.

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Greater Lawrence Technical School Students to Participate in Community Forum with Merrimack Valley Prevention and Substance Abuse Project

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Greater Lawrence Technical School
Superintendent John Lavoie
57 River Rd, Andover,
MA 01810

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017

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

Greater Lawrence Technical School Students to Participate in Community Forum with Merrimack Valley Prevention and Substance Abuse Project

ANDOVER — Superintendent John Lavoie is pleased to announce that Greater Lawrence Technical School is working with the Merrimack Valley Prevention and Substance Abuse Project on its fourth annual community forum.

WHEN:

Saturday, Sept. 23 from 4-8 p.m.

WHERE:

Greater Lawrence Technical School, 57 River Road, Andover

WHAT:

MVPASAP, working with GLTS, will host its To Be Aware Is To Be Alive community event. With the miracle of recovery as their theme, organizers are focused on educating the public about life after addiction.

Each hour of the night will be filled with informative and moving segments that will provide attendees with a better understanding of opioid and alcohol addiction. Between 30-40 organizations involved in substance abuse recovery will be set up around the school to provide information and answer questions.

Throughout the night, GLTS students, as part of the school’s Interact Club — a community service extracurricular organization– will be assisting with logistics to ensure that guests can easily navigate through the school and enjoy the event.

“GLTS has been so supportive of our event from the very start,” said MVPASAP President Philip Lahey. “This type of collaboration is really what our organization is all about — getting in touch with students and parents about an issue that is having a profound effect on our nation. We’re hoping community members will join us for this great event.”

Attendees can visit the Hidden in Plain Sight exhibit, which is designed to help parents spot the signs of youth substance use. They will also learn how to best communicate with their children as another tool to help prevent alcohol and drug abuse.

From 4-5:30 p.m., members of the Methuen, Andover and North Andover Police Departments will host a free Narcan training session.

At 6 p.m., guests will be invited into the auditorium for a showing of “If Only”– a short film that highlights the negative effects of prescription drug abuse and opioid addiction. James Wahlberg, the film’s producer, will speak to attendees about the purpose and motivation of the film.

To conclude the event, the Improbable Players — actors who are in long-term recovery — will teach attendees about addiction through dramatic performances and theater workshops.

“A little over a year ago we brought Mr. Lahey to GLTS to present to students, faculty and staff about opioid and alcohol addiction, and his presentation was so moving and informative that we wanted to become more involved in MVPASAP,” Superintendent Lavoie said. “We’re pleased to be able to donate our space to the To Be Aware Is To Be Alive event and I want to thank all students who have volunteered their time to be a part of this.”

For more information about the event, contact MVPASAP at 978-886-2949.

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