PCO

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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Plymouth County Outreach to Receive $500,000 Federal Grant

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Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018

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

Plymouth County Outreach to Receive $500,000 Federal Grant

The Police Chiefs of Plymouth County are pleased to announce that Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) has been awarded a federal grant that will significantly improve the services provided by the group in the coming years.

PCO will receive the $496,650 grant as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Program through the U.S. Department of Justice.

The award is among the first major federal funding grants to go toward substance use disorder treatment and recovery legislation, with the aim of addressing the ongoing opioid epidemic.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have been selected by the DOJ for the CARA grant and these funds will hopefully go a long way toward helping our Plymouth County residents who have been impacted by the opioid crisis and their families,” East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen said.

The funds, which will be dispersed over the next two years, will allow PCO to hire two full-time staff members – a Project Coordinator and an Operations Supervisor. Those positions will allow PCO to offer better resources to individuals who are in need of treatment in a more streamlined and effective fashion.

“We will be looking to hire two full-time staff members who are dedicated to working with Plymouth County residents each and every day and can represent Plymouth County Outreach in all of our communities,” Middleborough Police Chief Joseph Perkins said.

In addition, the money will allow PCO to improve their Critical Incident Management System database, which tracks the number of overdoses in the region and allows for research and detailed analysis of the data collected to be studied by PCO’s treatment and healthcare partners.

“In receiving this grant from the federal government this shows, I believe, that our program and approach is on the forefront of combining the efforts of law enforcement, healthcare providers and treatment professionals in providing care to those opioid users in our communities who are in need,” Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri said.

In addition to Plymouth County Outreach, 11 other Massachusetts programs will receive a total of $8.4 million in grant funding:

  • Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office awarded $541,300
  • Middlesex District Attorney’s Office awarded one grant of $360,000 and one of $500,000
  • Boston Police Department awarded $305,362
  • City of Holyoke Police Department awarded $448,025
  • Massachusetts Administrative Office of the Trial Court awarded $1.5 million
  • Advocates for Human Potential awarded $1.55 million
  • City of Worcester awarded $744,668
  • Franklin County Sheriff’s Office awarded $1 million
  • LUK Crisis Center awarded $500,000

“In 2017, over 2,000 Massachusetts residents died from drug overdoses,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “The opioid crisis is an unprecedented public health crisis in the United States, but we are committed to the President’s plan to end the epidemic through prevention, treatment and enforcement. With over $8 million in federal grant funding, programs in Massachusetts can expand to serve larger populations, increase services, and support those who are most impacted by this deadly epidemic. I applaud the grant recipients for their commitment to serve their communities in this way.”

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. The chiefs have partnered with the offices of District Attorney Timothy Cruz and Sheriff Joseph McDonald to take a multi-jurisdictional approach to dealing with the opioid epidemic.

Today, several member chiefs met to discuss the announcement of the grant.

“The work being done by our partners in law enforcement and the treatment and healthcare industries is vital to combating this deadly epidemic. In Plymouth County and everywhere else, one overdose death is one too many,” Hanover Police Chief Walter Sweeney said.

Next week, PCO will be honored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and will be receiving the Leadership in Community Policing Award on Oct. 9 in Orlando, Florida.

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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Plymouth County Outreach Reminds Residents of Good Samaritan Law

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Friday, Dec. 1, 2017

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

Plymouth County Outreach Reminds Residents of Good Samaritan Law

PCO was Recently Referenced on a National Level in a Report by Drug-Free Communities

This holiday season, Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) and police chiefs throughout Plymouth County are reminding citizens of the state’s Good Samaritan Law.

“With many family members and friends getting together and coming home for the holidays, we want to again make citizens aware of this crucial tool that will help save lives,” East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen said. “Losing anyone to a drug overdose is heartbreaking. Because this is supposed to be such a special time of year, some of the saddest cases we’ve dealt with are the ones that occur during the holidays.”

The Good Samaritan Law (M.G.L. 94C §34A) states that a person experiencing a drug-related overdose (or someone with the overdosing party) who seeks medical assistance will not be charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled substance.

In addition, the law allows for a person to possess, administer and receive a prescription for the overdose-reversing drug Narcan.

It should be noted, the law does not prevent anyone from being criminally charged with trafficking, distribution or possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

“While the holidays are a great time of year, it can be a time when some people are at their most vulnerable. If you are with someone who has overdosed, we urge you to call 911 to get that person help immediately,” said Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri. “Even if you have Narcan, overdose victims need professional medical assistance. Calling for help can and does save lives.”

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.

PCO has partnered with healthcare, 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.

Program initiatives such as drop-in centers, Narcan training, proactive outreach efforts, in-person overdose follow-up visits and real-time overdose data collection, were recently recognized on a national level.

As part of the Brockton Area Opioid Abuse Prevention Collaborative, the program was referenced as a key strategy at the local level in the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program National Evaluation end-of-year report. The report was released in September by the Executive Office of the President and the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

“While no one strategy is likely to fully address opioids across communities, several promising practices from a DFC coalition in Massachusetts provide further evidence of the central role that DFC coalitions can play,” the report reads. “These practices are innovative and result from the cross-sector collaboration that is at the core of the DFC program.”

“Being recognized on a national level for the work we have been doing right here in Plymouth County shows that our combined efforts can make a difference in battling this epidemic,” Chief Allen said. “Our newly formed advisory group, made up of 12 chiefs in the county, will only serve to strengthen our approach.”

The PCO Administrative Advisory Board consists of:

  • Abington Chief David Majenski
  • Brockton Chief John Crowley and Lt. Richard Linehan
  • Carver Chief Marc Duphily
  • East Bridgewater Chief Scott Allen
  • Hanover Chief Walter Sweeney
  • Hingham Chief Glenn Olsson
  • Middleboro Chief Joseph Perkins
  • Pembroke Chief Richard Wall
  • Plymouth Chief Michael Botieri
  • Rockland Chief John Llewellyn
  • Scituate Chief Michael Stewart
  • Wareham Chief Kevin Walsh

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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