This week, the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI) hosted its inaugural Major Cities Collaborative. The event welcomed 47 professionals from the top 50 most populated cities nationwide. The gathering aimed to showcase presentations, answer questions, and foster discussions on the pressing issues at the intersection of law enforcement and public health. For PAARI’s first event of this kind, notable participants included representatives from the New York Police Department, Boston Police Department, and Harris County Sheriff’s Office, who shared insights on the deflection initiatives they are spearheading in their cities.
Officer Artie Depinho and Caelann Wood from the Boston Police Department started the session with a presentation on their Hub Situation Table Initiative. This initiative facilitates cross-collaboration with community partners. Boston was one of the first major cities to adopt this model city-wide, starting in June 2018 in Jamaica Plain. The presenters discussed the challenges of the post-pandemic era, particularly the difficulty of fostering in-person connections.
Despite these challenges, the Hub model has been highly engaging. Many community organizations eagerly participate in weekly meetings to collaboratively address issues. Artie highlighted how the initiative equips police officers with more tools to help individuals by leveraging community and law enforcement partnerships. Following their presentation, they fielded questions from attendees.
Next, Sgt. Aimee Escoffier and Lt. Sean Walker from the New York Police Department discussed their Post Overdose Response Team (PORT). The city’s Opioid Overdose Task Force was established in 2010 to facilitate data sharing. By 2015, the RxStat Operations Group was created to conduct overdose fatality reviews, identify gaps, and develop policies and programs aimed at saving lives. Since its inception, this group has expanded to include about 40 city and state agencies.
Elizabeth Schady, Program Director of the Office of Drug User Health, elaborated on the PORT team’s evolution since its launch in 2019. Initially focused on the Bronx and Upper Manhattan, PORT now serves all boroughs. The program’s approach involves home visits and follow-up calls for overdose survivors, tailoring the national PORT model to the specific needs of New York City. The team offers resources such as wound care, clinical consultations, and Buprenorphine access. In addition to post-overdose education, PORT now engages in preventative work with at-risk individuals.
The NYPD has also partnered with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), which serves over 500,000 residents. Since March 2023, more than 1,200 naloxone trainings have been conducted, and kits have been distributed at homes. The NYPD has trained 96 officers on harm reduction and naloxone administration, and 32 community members received training last month. The program also includes a leave-behind initiative, where officers leave naloxone kits and contact information for PORT during visits.
Lt. Raymond Lomelo from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office concluded the session with a presentation on his city’s Neighborhood Policing Initiative. Harris County, the third-most populous county in the U.S., has a population of 4.7 million and covers 1,700 square miles. The Sheriff’s Office, with 5,000 employees, serves as a learning site for peer-to-peer programs designed to support individuals with mental health needs.
The Harris County training unit is dedicated to high ethical standards. It offers de-escalation training and various classes to prepare officers for diverse challenges. The Sheriff’s Office collaborates with over 60 law enforcement agencies and extends training to them, as well as churches and businesses.
To watch a full recording of the meeting, click the link HERE. The next Major Cities Collaborative will be held later this year.
