At a press conference, 15 municipal police forces in Westchester County gathered with not-for-profit Hope Not Handcuffs to announce a partnership that offers resources and support to those battling addiction.
“As law enforcement, we often become aware of situations that involve addiction and have repeatedly seen that many individuals and their families are unsure where to turn when seeking support,” said Pleasantville Police Chief Erik Grutzner. “Hope Not Handcuffs has shown they have the experience, resources and compassion to partner with law enforcement to offer assistance.”
Police departments in Westchester County, who have long sought additional resources to assist citizens dealing with addiction, have committed to an established program that seeks to find viable treatment options for individuals and their families who are seeking help. (A full list of participating departments can be found below.
“This program is for people who are struggling with addiction who really have nowhere else to turn,” said Yorktown Police Chief Robert Noble, whose department was the first in Westchester County to partner with Hope Not Handcuffs in March 2020. “They need to know that there’s a place of safety for everybody in our community, and that’s your police department.”
Approximately two million New Yorkers have a substance abuse problem with recent data indicating that the number of those suffering has increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Hope Not Handcuffs is a compassionate solution to addiction that does not stigmatize people who are struggling to escape a toxic situation. They need support, not judgment,” said Yorktown Supervisor Matt Slater.
