PLYMOUTH COUNTY — Plymouth County Outreach and the police chiefs of Plymouth County are pleased to announce their participation in the first National “Day of Deflection” on Wednesday, July 19.
The National Day of Deflection is a multistate effort to highlight the impact of deflection work in communities nationwide and the importance of local and multistate partnerships. The Day of Deflection is taking place during the first-ever PTACC (Police Treatment and Community Collaborative) “National Deflection Week,” July 16-23.
On July 19, deflection teams and sites in communities across the country will join together to conduct planned deflection efforts. Plymouth County Outreach will be hosting multiple resource tables throughout the county to provide community members with resources, support and harm reduction tools free of cost, and with no questions asked. Anyone is welcome to attend to visit with one of PCO’s Recovery Coaches over a cup of coffee at the following locations this Wednesday, July 19:
- Plymouth Public Library (Craft Room), 132 South St., Plymouth, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- East Bridgewater Town Hall (first floor conference room, to the left after entering through the front door), 175 Central St., East Bridgewater, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Universal Missionary Church, 30 N Main St., Brockton, from 10 a.m. to noon
- Hanover Police Department (training room, to the left after entering through the front door), 129 Rockland St., Hanover, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Anyone who is unable to visit one of the above locations on July 19 can call or text 774-434-5072 to be connected to a recovery coach, schedule a more convenient time to meet, or have resources or harm reduction tools to dropped off to you, no questions asked.
Deflection teams and sites in communities from 11 states – Massachusetts, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin – are expected to participate in the National “Day of Deflection.” Each team or site participating in this “Day of Deflection” can plan whatever deflection-related event or activity they wish.
Deflection is when first responders, social workers, and recovery support professionals connect individuals experiencing mental health or substance use challenges to community-based treatment and/or services as an alternative to arrest or taking no action.
About Plymouth County Outreach:
Plymouth County Outreach is a multi-faceted collaboration of the 27 municipal police departments in Plymouth County, as well as the Bridgewater State University Police Department, working together with recovery coaches, community organizations and coalitions to make treatment, resources, and harm reduction tools more accessible to people who use drugs and their loved ones. Our goal is to provide compassionate, judgment-free support while reducing overdose fatalities.
Plymouth County Outreach is a collaborative of police departments throughout Plymouth County led by the following chiefs: Abington Chief David Del Papa, Bridgewater Chief Christopher Delmonte, Bridgewater State University Chief David Tillinghast, Brockton Chief Brenda Perez, Carver Chief Marc Duphily, Duxbury Chief Michael Carbone, East Bridgewater Acting Chief Michael Jenkins, Halifax Chief Joao Chaves, Hanover Chief Timothy Kane, Hanson Chief Michael Miksch, Hingham Chief David Jones, Hull Chief John Dunn, Kingston Chief Maurice Splaine, Lakeville Chief Matthew Perkins, Marion Chief Richard Nighelli, Marshfield Chief Phillip Tavares, Mattapoisett Chief Jason King, Middleboro Chief Joseph Perkins, Norwell Chief Edward Lee, Pembroke Chief Richard MacDonald, Plymouth Chief Dana Flynn, Plympton Chief Matthew Ahl, Rochester Chief Robert Small, Rockland Chief Nicholas Zeoli, Scituate Chief Mark Thompson, Wareham Chief Walter Correia, West Bridgewater Chief Victor Flaherty and Whitman Chief Timothy Hanlon.
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