The Police Chiefs of Plymouth County are pleased to announce that Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) held its quarterly meeting at Bridgewater State University on Thursday.
Each fiscal quarter, PCO hosts Plymouth County police departments and partners from around the county to go over the year-to-date overdose data, provide education for outreach teams and give updates on current and new initiatives happening within PCO.
About 150 people attended the meeting, including PCO Advisory Board members, several Plymouth County police chiefs, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz, PCO outreach officers, PCO recovery coaches, local politicians, local school officials and representatives from treatment facilities and area hospitals.
During the meeting, Vicky Butler was promoted from Operations Supervisor to Project Coordinator. Anne Marie Winchester was promoted to Lead Recovery Coach, John Rogers was named the PCO HUB Manager and new hire and recent Stonehill College graduate, Hannah Panteleos, was named Operations Supervisor.
“Part of the meeting was to give thanks to all of the outreach officers, recovery coaches and outreach team members for all their hard work and dedication to the program,” Butler said. “It’s been amazing to watch the evolution of PCO and how far the program has come with the help of all of our community partners. The quarterly meeting is an important way to keep all of our members updated on the latest news and information.”
During the meeting, an update was given by East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen and Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri, who recently testified before the legislature to change legislation to include police officers as people who can legally provide the overdose-reversing drug Narcan to community members.
The implementation of an Officer Working Group was announced within PCO. The group, made up of local police officers, will work with PCO to share input and ideas to enhance the program. The members of the Officer Working Group will make recommendations to the PCO Chiefs Advisory Board related to PCO operations, protocols and other specialized areas, as they are the experts working at the ground level.
A powerful story of hope and recovery was shared by PCO Recovery Coach Haley Kennedy.
A presentation about drug endangered children was provided by panelists that included Brockton Police Lt. Dick Linehan, Marissa del Rosario from the Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative, Dr. Gina Williams, Assistant Superintendent of the East Bridgewater School District and Katie Mapa, Drug Endangered Child Clinical Advocate from the United Way of Greater Plymouth County’s Family Center.
PCO would like to thank BSU President Fred Clark for providing the meeting space and BSU Chief of Staff Denez Leuenberger for welcoming those in attendance.
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 Stephen McDonald, East Bridgewater Chief Scott Allen, Halifax Chief Joao Chaves, Hanover Chief Walter Sweeney, Hanson Chief Michael Miksch, Hingham Chief Glenn Olsson, Hull Chief John Dunn, Kingston Chief Maurice Splaine, Lakeville Chief Matthew Perkins, 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 Interim Chief Matthew Clancy, Rochester Chief Robert Small, Rockland Chief John Llewellyn, Scituate Chief Michael Stewart, Wareham Chief John Walcek, West Bridgewater Chief Victor Flaherty and Whitman Chief Timothy Hanlon.
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