For Immediate Release

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Chatham, New York Police Department Celebrates One-Year Anniversary of P.A.A.R.I. Addiction Recovery Initiative

CHATHAM, NY — Police Chief Peter Volkmann, along with Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I) Co-Founder and Chairman John Rosenthal and Executive Director Allie Hunter McDade, are pleased to announce that the Chatham Police Department celebrated its one-year anniversary of its Chatham Cares 4 U Outreach Initiative Program, assisting 130 participants into treatment.

First launched on July 1, 2016, Chatham Cares 4 U encourages residents who want to overcome their drug addiction to walk into the police station, turn over their drugs and paraphernalia and ask for help. Those who come in are not charged, but instead, are placed into a drug treatment program. Participants are also assigned to a volunteer “angel,” whose role is to guide and support them through their journey recovery.

Over the last year, Chatham Police have placed 130 people into treatment, all of whom entered a program in New York. The police department has also received $3,500 in donations for its addiction recovery program and now has more than 20 angel volunteers.

“As a part-time agency, we have truly accomplished a miracle in our community by working with P.A.A.R.I.,” Chief Volkmann said. “I am so grateful to P.A.A.R.I. for its assistance, to the many police officers who’ve willingly donated their time to help out with this program and all the angels who work with participants to ensure a smooth process. We’re so proud of what we’ve accomplished and I plan to do all I can to continue saving lives.”

Additionally, given the success of Chatham Cares 4 U, other police departments in the state have begun similar addiction recovery initiatives in their communities. Chief Volkmann also travels around New York to speak to police departments and other organizations about the program.

“Chief Volkmann has done an outstanding job assisting those struggling with the disease of addiction find the resources they require to live a life in recovery,” Rosenthal said. “I commend the Chatham Police Department for taking the leap to launch an addiction recovery initiative, and for continuing to help those in need a year later.”

“I applaud and congratulate the Chatham Police Department for reaching this milestone,” Hunter McDade said. “Assisting 130 participants into treatment is a great accomplishment, especially for a part-time police department. P.A.A.R.I. will continue to work with Chief Volkmann and the Chatham Police Department to ensure that everyone who asks for help, receives it.”

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