outreach

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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P.A.A.R.I. Brings on Former Gloucester Angel Participant as New Care Advocate and Outreach Coordinator

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

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017

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

P.A.A.R.I. Brings on Former Gloucester Angel Participant as New Care Advocate and Outreach Coordinator

Steve Lesnikoski is P.A.A.R.I.’s new Care Advocate and Outreach Coordinator. (Courtesy Photo Wayne E. Chinnock Photography)

GLOUCESTER — John Rosenthal, co-founder and chairman of the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.), and Executive Director Allie Hunter McDade are pleased to announce that Steve Lesnikoski — the first person to go through the Gloucester Angel Initiative — is P.A.A.R.I.’s new Care Advocate and Outreach Coordinator.

Lesnikoski stepped into his new role on Sept. 11. His position is made possible through P.A.A.R.I.’s two-year project funded by a grant from the Evelyn Lilly Lutz Foundation.

“Steve’s journey, first with the Gloucester Angel Program and then P.A.A.R.I., has really brought him full circle,” Rosenthal said. “We hope every participant who has gone through an opioid recovery program can be as successful as Steve has been. We’re pleased to have him working full-time with P.A.A.R.I. assisting others like him who are trying to overcome substance abuse disorders.”

The partnership with the Lutz Foundation enables P.A.A.R.I. to collaborate with additional police departments in Essex County while expanding its staff to assist these agencies, a​s well as ​​individuals seeking treatment.

As a Care Advocate and Outreach Coordinator, Lesnikoski will work with law enforcement agencies to prevent opioid overdose deaths, engage more residents in effective treatment and recovery from substance use disorders, and improve coordination among hospitals, police and communities. His focus will be centered on police departments in the Beverly Hospital service area.

Lesnikoski previously worked at Eliot Community Human Services in Lynn, where he was a Peer Specialist in the Emergency Services Program. His role included assisting and providing aftercare follow up on post-overdose calls through Eliot’s Jail Diversion Program located in the Lynn Police Department.

In 2015, Lesnikoski reached out to the Gloucester Police Department, following the launch of its Angel Program, seeking help recovering from his opioid addiction. Since then, he has remained committed to assisting others through his work with P.A.A.R.I., first as a volunteer and then as an intern.

In March, Lesnikoski joined P.A.A.R.I. members in Washington to participate in the Senate Round Table to discuss steps leaders can take to address the nation’s opioid epidemic. Most recently, Lesnikoski joined Hunter McDade in Ohio to speak at a law enforcement-led rally on opioids.

“Over the last year, Steve has provided invaluable insight to P.A.A.R.I. and has positively impacted the lives of so many with his inspiring story,” Hunter McDade said. “We’re so pleased and thankful to be working with the Evelyn Lilly Lutz Foundation so that we can increase Steve’s presence and impact in Essex County.”

Lesnikoski is currently attending North Shore Community College, where he’s working to obtain an associate’s degree in drug and alcohol rehabilitation. He has been sober for more than two years.

To contact Lesnikoski, email him at [email protected] or call him at (888) 9-PAARI-9 ex. 705.

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*MEDIA ADVISORY* Plymouth County Outreach To Host First Joint Meeting Tomorrow

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Monday, July 17, 2017

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

*MEDIA ADVISORY*

Plymouth County Outreach To Host First Joint Meeting 

PLYMOUTH —  Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) is pleased to announce that all of its partner agencies will gather for its first-ever joint meeting, combining its northern and southern groups into one unified organization.

WHO:

  • Former White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske
  • East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen
  • Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri
  • P.A.A.R.I. Executive Director Allie Hunter McDade
  • Representatives from more than two dozen Plymouth County law enforcement agencies
  • Hillary Dubois of the Brockton Area Opioid Abuse Prevention Collaborative, Drop-In Centers and the Champion Plan
  • Representatives from the offices of District Attorney Tim Cruz and Sheriff Joseph McDonald

WHEN: 

Tuesday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to noon

WHERE:

1620 Hotel, 180 Water St., Plymouth

WHAT:

PCO will host its inaugural all-county meeting with all of the law enforcement and recovery partners from its north and south districts, which will feature an open exchange of ideas and a discussion on the rapid evolution of PCO and its ongoing efforts to overcome the opioid epidemic in Plymouth County.

“Each of our partner agencies has already done great work on their own and within their PCO districts,” East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen said. “Merging the two districts will only lead to an even broader conversation about how we can collaborate and work together against the spread of opioid addiction in our communities.”

The meeting will feature updates from Hunter-McDade and Dubois, as well as a presentation from Kerlikowske, who recently joined the P.A.A.R.I Board of Directors.

“This is a unique opportunity to bring together leaders from the recovery community on both the local and national levels,” Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri said. “I’m excited for it because it’s going to give everyone a chance to share their approaches and successes on a broader scale than we ever have before in Plymouth County.”

Chief Allen and Chief Botieri will chair the meeting, which marks the first time that the north and south districts of PCO have come together in such a way. The meeting will feature two sessions, including overdose outreach training and a review of issues related to the PCO database.

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P.A.A.R.I. to Fund Addiction Outreach Program in Arlington, Mass.

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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

Thursday, July 9, 2015

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

P.A.A.R.I. to Give Grant to Arlington, Mass. Police Department to Fund Addict Outreach Initiative

Arlington Police Department Becomes First P.A.A.R.I. Partner

GLOUCESTER — Police Chief Leonard Campanello, and John Rosenthal, co-founders of The Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.) are pleased to announce that the organization will award a $5,000 grant to a Massachusetts police department to fund the creation of a drug addiction outreach program in that community.

The Arlington Police Department and Chief Frederick Ryan today announced the creation of The Arlington Outreach Initiative, a new policing approach aimed at helping addicts in the community. Beginning this week, police officers will team up with a Public Health Clinician to do direct, door-to-door outreach to drug addicts, previous overdose patients, and their families.

The idea for the program reported came from the arrest of an alleged heroin dealer in Arlington. As is often the case, once a drug dealer is arrested, police often locate with their list of customers. These lists are literally collections of people, often town residents, who are living in the grip of addiction.  Under The Arlington Outreach Initiative, the police department will now reach out to these people and their families. The goal of the Initiative is to educate families, help provide potentially lifesaving Nasal Narcan, and to make addicts and their families, friends, and caregivers aware of treatment options and resources available. 

“In the past, we would not do anything with this information we learned about the customers of drug dealers, and the addicts would simply find a new dealer for their next fix,” Chief Ryan said. “The time for inaction is over.”

The Arlington Outreach Initiative is inspired by the Gloucester Police Department ANGEL Initiative, created by Chief Campanello. Gloucester’s initiative allows people who suffer from addiction to turn over their remaining drug supply and paraphernalia to the Gloucester Police Department without the threat of arrest and then fast-tracks the participant into a treatment center.

“Chief Campanello has started a very important conversation among municipal police departments and police chiefs across the country, and the Arlington Police Department is following suit by implementing our own program based on Arlington’s unique needs as a community,” Chief Ryan said.

Both programs seek to make Nasal Narcan more widely and inexpensively available to addicts and their families. Both programs advocate for long-term recovery centers. Most importantly, both programs seek to end the stigma of addiction, recognize it as a disease, and put police officers in a position to directly help people suffering from it.

Additionally, the Arlington Police Department will commit a portion of its criminal asset forfeiture funding to help subsidize the purchase of Narcan for uninsured and under-insured residents who need it.

“I am extremely proud to stand with Chief Ryan at the launch of the Arlington Outreach Initiative,” Chief Campanello said. “Every community has its own unique set of challenges and opportunities, and I look forward to seeing many similar programs launch in other cities and towns. Chief Ryan has been a mentor to me, and he is a well-respected Chief in Greater Boston. I could not be happier that Arlington has taken this step.”

“The Arlington Police Department recognizes that a new approach is needed to combat the scourge of heroin and opioid addiction our nation faces,” John Rosenthal said. “We are very happy to partner with Arlington, and we are confident that this is the first of many such announcements.”

About P.A.A.R.I.

The Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.) was started to support local police departments as they work with opioid addicts. 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 addicts 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 the police department and opioid addicts seeking recovery.

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