MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SUBJECT: Watertown Police Department to Become First in the Nation to Have 100% of Sworn Officers Certified in PAARI Deflection Essentials
Watertown, CT — September 28, 2026 — The Watertown Police Department, in partnership with the Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative (PAARI), announced that it has begun department-wide training to become the first law enforcement agency in the nation to have 100% of its sworn officers trained and certified in Deflection Essentials.
EVENT / PROGRAM DETAILS
- WHAT: Department-wide enrollment and certification in PAARI’s accredited, 3-course Deflection Essentials curriculum:
- 1. Addiction 101 for First Responders
- 2. The Trauma-Addiction Connection for First Responders
- 3. Deflection and Diversion Foundations for First Responders
- WHO: All sworn officers of the Watertown Police Department, led by Chief Joshua Bernegger, in collaboration with Executive Director Zoe Grover and the PAARI training team.
- WHEN: Training launched in August 2026, with department-wide certification slated for October 2026.
- WHY: To equip every officer on the force with trauma-informed communication skills, stigma reduction techniques, and non-arrest deflection pathways to connect community members experiencing substance use disorders directly to treatment and recovery resources.
STATEMENTS
“Law enforcement has historically been the default option for every societal crisis, but a public health crisis requires a public health approach,” said Chief Joshua Bernegger. “By ensuring every single officer on our force is trained in Deflection Essentials, we’re giving our team the tools to address the root causes of crime while making our community safer and stronger for everyone.”
“We are thrilled to work with the Watertown Police Department to create a new standard for modern public safety,” said Zoe Grover, Executive Director of PAARI. “Chief Bernegger has been a leader in this space for many years and we are proud to partner with him again to bring more officers into this work.”
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS
- Watertown Police Department: Dedicated to serving and protecting the Watertown community through proactive, community-oriented policing strategies and evidence-based deflection pathways.
- Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative (PAARI): A nationwide nonprofit organization providing technical assistance, strategic guidance, and training resources to more than 800 police departments across 47 states to create pathways to treatment and recovery. Learn more at paariusa.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS
- Watertown Police Department: Chief Joshua Bernegger – (860) 945-5214
- PAARI: Zoe Grover, Executive Director — (617) 394-8452 | media@paariusa.org
