Gloucester, Massachusetts, Police Chief Leonard Campanello will be honored by President Barack Obama next week in the White House, for launching the ANGEL Initiative, a program designed to fight drug addiction.
Campanello is one of 10 "Champions of Change", an honor that 920 people were nominated for.
The chief began the ANGEL initiative in the spring of 2005. Campanello then worked with businessman John Rosenthal to create the Police Assisted Additiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.). Through his work, people seeking treatment for substance abuse can ask for help at the police station, without criminal penalty.
This initiative helped start parallel programs in roughly 100 police departments across 22 states.
"To have the President of the United States and the White House recognize Gloucester for taking a small role in combating addiction through de-stigmatization, awareness, humanity and treatment, is a testament to the City, Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, and our residents, whom I am so proud and humbled to serve..." said Chief Campanello.
The White House said, "Chief Campanello has worked to end the stigma of addiction by adding law enforcement's voice to those suffering with substance use disorders."
The ceremony will also showcase remarks by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, and Michael Botticelli, the Director of National Drug Control Policy.
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The New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area nominated Chief Campanello as a "Champion of Change." The organization aids in coordinating federal, state and local law agencies in New England, focusing on area-specific drug threats. Although the NEHIDTA focuses on drug enforcement and the supply-side of drug addiction, the program recognizes demand as "a critical piece of the puzzle."
Since the program's initiation, the Gloucester Program has directly helped 425 people seek treatment.
