Making an Impact is a column authored by members of the Community Impact Team (CIT). The Transcript publishes these articles periodically to inform our readers about the resources and programming available to people of all ages in our community through the CIT’s efforts.
NORTH READING — In the 11 years since retiring Chief Michael Murphy has been at the helm of the North Reading Police Department (NRPD), both perception of law enforcement and the business of policing have undergone significant change. Nationwide, this ongoing shift remains a significant challenge for law enforcement leaders.
During this time of change, North Reading has been fortunate to have a strong, professional police department leader in Chief Murphy, who has supported his officers and community at large with compassion and an eye toward the future. His leadership and innovation have created a department that strives to set a high bar in community support and cooperation.
Members of the Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition have seen first-hand the benefits of a strong leader and the impact on the community. These include the best of community policing, supporting work in substance use prevention, accessibility of officers within our schools, and mental health care, both for the community and for NRPD officers themselves.
Over a decade ago, Chief Murphy noted an increasing number of opiate overdoses among youth in our quiet suburban community. At that time, he engaged the town’s Youth Services Director to form the North Reading Community Impact Team (CIT), composed of town department heads, elected officials, and volunteers. The CIT’s mission focuses on nontraditional methods to identify and solve factors that have a negative impact on the quality of life for all North Reading citizens.
“We started the CIT as a way to get everyone to the table to deal with the problems, not just the symptoms. Quickly, we knew that we needed to outreach upstream to the younger ages to prevent substance use, but knew we needed science-based strategies,” Chief Murphy said. “I had heard about the Drug-Free Communities Grant (DFC) and the technical support it offered.”
The North Reading Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition (the Coalition) officially formed in 2014 and is now in year seven of its second five years of federal grant funding. Since then, Chief Murphy has supported Coalition initiatives in several ways, including:
- prioritizing active police involvement in the Coalition;
- supporting officer training in prevention work through the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA);
- providing testimony to support regulations that restrict youth access to substances;
- building the Tripod Model, which brings prevention, mental health, and law enforcement professionals together to address substance use;
- increasing Coalition access to data in town, the county, and beyond.
Like many nascent organizations, the Coalition experienced early challenges, quickly learning that having well known, trusted local leadership is critical to building credibility and buy-in.
The town also recognized the connection between mental health and substance use, hiring Mental Health/Substance Abuse Clinician Laura Miranda in October 2018 to work within the police station. Today, Miranda and Amy Luckiewicz, DFC Grant Director, are both based at the NRPD, working side-by-side. With prevention, treatment/intervention, and enforcement all operating out of the same “house,” the town was able to keep its foot on the pedal of prevention and response throughout the COVID-19 challenge.
Coalition leadership continues to actively pursue collaboration with North Reading Public Schools (NRPS), engaging with the School Superintendent through the CIT structure to broaden understanding of the need to work in tandem and facilitate direct outreach to the Coalition’s target population. The Coalition and NRPS now work closely together, showing benefits in many ways, including strong annual core data collection across grades six through 12.
Chief Murphy’s vision, support, and innovation have helped make the Coalition an example for similar organizations nationwide, uniting police, prevention, and mental health professionals as true partners in public safety and health.
Benefits of primary prevention vs. arrest
“The DFC grant has taught us, all of us, including law enforcement, about primary prevention. We’ve known for a while that arrest is not a solution. There are times when arrest is an option; however, arresting doesn’t solve the problem. Our officers now have other tools to try and mitigate the negative effects of substance abuse,” Chief Murphy said. “Prevention efforts within our community, as well as the referral options for families and those suffering from addiction, have helped the police department’s perspective on substance abuse evolve from arrest first to arrest as a last resort.”
Coalition Chair Jennifer Ford, the former Youth Services Director, has seen that evolution pay off for the community.
“Chief Murphy’s capacity and willingness to recognize NRPD’s need to shift their perspective from strictly enforcement to encompassing the undeniable mental health component as well as prevention, intervention, and treatment through a more tolerant lens is monumental,” Ford said. “This shift has created a far more effective approach and overall a more inclusive culture, which has fostered meaningful partnerships within the community of North Reading and beyond.”
Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition members wish Chief Murphy the best in retirement and extend their tremendous appreciation for being a true partner and leader in prevention and wellness across North Reading.