pepperell police

Pepperell Police and Council on Aging Launch Safe Return Project

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Retained by the Pepperell Police Department

Pepperell Police Department
David Scott, Chief of Police
59 Main St.
Pepperell, MA 01463

For Immediate Release

Monday, June 3, 2019

Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Pepperell Police and Council on Aging Launch Safe Return Project

PEPPERELL — A new initiative launching this Friday will help first responders locate individuals prone to wandering and becoming lost.

The Police Department, along with the Fire Department and Council on Aging, have partnered to create the Safe Return Project, an initiative that will supply first responders with emergency contact information and a photo should a person at risk wander.

The free program is open to anyone with a condition that puts them at risk for wandering, including seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and individuals with autism.

“The Safe Return Project prepares us to respond more quickly and effectively in the event that someone wanders and becomes lost,” Chief David Scott said. “Time is precious when someone goes missing, and this program prepares us to immediately start searching with a photo in hand and an understanding of the missing individual.”

Beginning on Friday, June 7, family members and caretakers will have the opportunity to sign up their loved ones for the Safe Return Project. To sign up, residents will be asked to provide a photo of the individual and emergency contact information.

Signups will be available for the Safe Return Project at a Safety Day event at the Senior Center on Nashua Road on Friday from 9-11 a.m.

Residents who can’t make the event can sign someone up for the program anytime at the Pepperell Police Station on Main Street or at the Senior Center anytime during business hours, beginning June 7.

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Community Outreach Initiative Network Receives Grant for Crisis Intervention Training

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For Immediate Release

Friday, March 8, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 978-743-0004
Email: [email protected]

Community Outreach Initiative Network Receives Grant for Crisis Intervention Training

PEPPERELL — The Community Outreach Initiative Network (COIN) is pleased to announce that it has been approved for a technical assistance grant from the United States Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office.

The grant will assist COIN with creating a crisis intervention strategic plan to include developing and hosting Crisis Intervention Training for their officers. Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) is a 40 hour in-depth class where select officers will learn strategies to de-escalate crisis situations involving mental health disorders with the goal of helping the individuals in crisis and keeping them out of the criminal justice system.

The COPS Office and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) partnered to form a technical assistance center known as the Collaborative Reform Initiative for Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC), which distributes the grants.

The CRI-TAC will assign subject matter experts to assist COIN with their regional CIT strategic plan at no cost to COIN or any of the involved towns.

Crisis Intervention Training is localized training that involves providing first responders with the knowledge of local options to assist individuals in crisis, such as local hospital units, treatment centers and other stakeholders.

“I’m looking forward to developing this critical training program, which will provide COIN member departments with a critical resource to address a significant need in our communities,” said Pepperell Police Chief David Scott. “Organizing a CIT training is an enormous task, and we thank the CRI-TAC for assisting us.”

COIN is a 10 town collaborative effort that brings mental health clinicians, counselors and recovery coaches into police departments to assistance individuals who are struggling with mental health and substance use disorders.

COIN began in 2016 when the police departments in Ayer, Ashby, Boxborough, Dunstable, Groton, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend and Westford first partnered with Family Continuity, the agency that provides the clinicians, counselors and recovery coaches.

The partnership is funded by a grant from the Department of Mental Health.

Besides assisting those who are struggling with mental health and/or substance use disorders with finding treatment or other services, COIN also assists with providing training to the officers in the 10 police departments to help them to identify individuals who may have a mental health or substance use disorder, to understand what these individuals may be experiencing, and how to deal with individuals in crisis. COIN has provided multiple Mental Health First Aid classes for first responders within the 10 towns.

“We are thrilled to have the CRI-TAC’s assistance with this endeavor”, added COIN clinician Sarah Gagne, “This training is something that we have been discussing for a while and we can’t wait to get it started”.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health or substance use disorder, you can call COIN at 508-488-5072. Someone will call you back within one business day.

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Pepperell Police and COIN Take Part in Opioid Forum

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Retained by the Pepperell Police Department

Pepperell Police Department
David Scott, Chief of Police
59 Main St.
Pepperell, MA 01463

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019

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

Pepperell Police and COIN Take Part in Opioid Forum

From left: Narcotics Anonymous representative Marla, Mary Morgan of NM Cares, Pepperell Police Chief David Scott, COIN clinician Sarah Gagne and John Kelly of Trinity Ambulance Service. (Courtesy Photo)

PEPPERELL — Chief David Scott is pleased to announce that the Pepperell Police Department participated in a community forum addressing the opioid crisis last night.

Chief Scott and Community Outreach Initiative Network (COIN) clinician Sarah Gagne joined members of NM Cares, Narcotics Anonymous and Trinity Ambulance Service at the forum, which was sponsored and hosted by Pepperell Christian Fellowship Church.

At the forum, Chief Scott and Gagne discussed their work developing and implementing the COIN program. COIN is a combined effort of 10 area police departments and Family Continuity, which employs Gagne and a group of recovery coaches and counselors.

When a police officer identifies a person in the community who is struggling with mental health or substance use issues, they refer that person to COIN, which initiates the process of connecting them to services.

Gagne and Chief Scott also highlighted the additional steps COIN has taken, including conducting home visits with those in need who may not be able to be connected to services over the phone. Work is also ongoing to create a drop-in center for those looking to seek help through COIN.

The panelists placed a heavy emphasis on the importance of eliminating the stigma associated with opioid addiction, as well as changing law enforcement’s role in addressing drug addiction.

“The police have done a great job showing these individuals that their core goal is to serve as a resource for those in need, rather than simply arresting people struggling with these issues,” said Gagne, who works with on location at the Pepperell police station two days a week. “They really care and want to help.”

The forum, which was attended by approximately 75 people, served as an opportunity for community leaders and residents to have an open discussion about the work that’s been done so far–and the work that still needs to be done–to curtail the opioid crisis.

“I’d like to thank the Pepperell Christian Fellowship Church for hosting this forum and confronting this issue in a compassionate and meaningful way,” Chief Scott said. “While the number of overdoses is slowly decreasing in Massachusetts, there’s still work to be done and we’re committed to helping as many people as possible.”

Anyone who is struggling with mental health issues or addiction–or knows somebody who is–should call COIN at 508-488-5072. Someone will call back within one business day.

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Pepperell Police Investigating Vandalism of Covered Bridge and Rail Trail

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Retained by the Pepperell Police Department

Pepperell Police Department
David Scott, Chief of Police
59 Main St.
Pepperell, MA 01463

For Immediate Release

Friday, Oct. 5, 2018

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

Pepperell Police Investigating Vandalism of Covered Bridge and Rail Trail

 

PEPPERELL — Chief David Scott reports that the Pepperell Police Department is investigating after the covered bridge and a portion of the Nashua River Rail Trail were vandalized earlier this week.

On Monday, Oct. 1, at approximately 10:50 a.m., officers were dispatched to the covered bridge on Groton Street after a resident emailed the department about possible vandalism to the bridge.

Upon arrival, officers conducted an on-scene investigation and located several spray painted markings on the bridge.

A witness who walks over the bridge every day reported that the markings were new as of Monday morning. Following further investigation, officers determined that additional vandalism had taken place between the initial report on Monday and a second visit to the bridge on Thursday, Oct. 4.

Officers also discovered vandalism this week to an area of the Nashua River Rail Trail.

The report about the damage to the bridge was forwarded to the Highway Department, and both incidents remain under investigation.

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