BURRILLVILLE, RI October 28, 2024 – The Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI) is pleased to announce its latest Partner Spotlight Series webinar, featuring the Burrillville Police Department. This monthly series highlights outstanding PAARI partners, and for October, Colonel Stephen Lynch of Burrillville PD will take center stage.
The virtual event, scheduled for Tuesday, October 29, will feature Colonel Lynch as he introduces the town of Burrillville, provides an overview of the Burrillville Addiction Assistance Program (BAAP), and discusses the challenges and solutions in its implementation. He will also highlight key successes and milestones, with the event concluding with a Q&A session.
BAAP is a PAARI-style deflection initiative designed to connect Burrillville residents with addiction treatment and recovery support services. Its mission is to break down the stigma surrounding substance use disorders and law enforcement while fostering trust within the community. As part of the program, residents can turn in drugs or paraphernalia without fear of arrest.
“By focusing on compassion and support, we’ve created a safe space for individuals seeking help in our community,” said Colonel Lynch. “I am grateful to PAARI for asking me to present at this month’s spotlight series and am eager to share the great work we have accomplished and plan to do in the future.”
Col. Lynch has been the Chief of Police in the Town of Burrillville since 2013. In 2017 he created and staffed BAAP and the Town Burrillville Prevention Action Coalition (BPAC). BAAP’s success is largely due to the expertise of the Program Coordinator, who is skilled in connecting individuals with the resources they need to pursue treatment and recovery. The program was developed in response to a troubling increase in overdose deaths in the community during 2015-16.
“Colonel Lynch and his team have shown a deep commitment to bridging the gap between law enforcement and recovery services. We are excited to highlight their impactful efforts in this month’s webinar,” said Zoe Grover, Executive Director of PAARI.
To sign up to attend the Partner Spotlight Series presentation, please visit the registration page HERE.
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ABOUT PAARI: The Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative (PAARI) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help law enforcement agencies nationwide create deflection programs (I.e.non-arrest pathways to treatment and recovery). Founded alongside the groundbreaking Gloucester, Mass., Police Department Angel Initiative in June 2015, PAARI has been a driving force behind this rapidly expanding community policing movement. We provide technical assistance, strategic guidance, connection to training resources, and other capacity-building resources to more than 700 police departments in 46 states.
PAARI works with more than 160 law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts alone. PAARI and our law enforcement partners are working towards a collective vision where non-arrest diversion and deflection programs become a standard policing practice across the country, thereby reducing overdose deaths, expanding access to treatment, improving public safety, reducing crime, diverting people away from the criminal justice system, and increasing trust between law enforcement and their communities. Our programs and partners have saved tens of thousands of lives, changed police culture, and reshaped the national conversation about the opioid epidemic since its founding in June 2015. Learn more at paariusa.org.
ABOUT BAAP: The Burrillville Addiction Assistance Program is an innovative program created to build a bridge between Burrillville residents and addiction treatment and recovery support services. Our Mission is to end the fear and stigma associated with addiction and law enforcement and create a level of trust within the community. If needed you can turn in your drugs or paraphernalia without fear of arrest. There is no fee for any of the services provided by the Program. Addiction is a disease – treatment is effective – and recovery is POSSIBLE. Learn more at burrillville.org/police-department/pages/addiction-assistance-program.
