Mt. Laurel Police Dept. Honored for Work With Individuals Struggling With Addiction

EASTAMPTON, NJ — The Mount Laurel Police Department (MLPD) and one of its officers were honored last week for their work in assisting individuals with addiction recovery.

The MLPD and Lieutenant Jeffrey Palladino received awards at the 2024 Burlington County Prosecutor's Office's (BCPO) 2nd Annual Law Enforcement Deflection Recognition Breakfast, held on June 27 at Historic Smithville Park in Eastampton.

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The event highlights the effort and collaboration among law enforcement, recovery coaches and other groups and agencies to help people struggling with addiction and provide them access to reliable and effective treatment and recovery services.

The Mount Laurel Police Department was honored as Department of the Year for being the police department with the most total call-outs to Operation Helping Hand, a BCPO program in which municipal police officers request the services of a recovery coach, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week , when they encounter someone they believe would benefit from treatment or support services. Recovery coaches will not force participants to enter a treatment program, but can assist with that process for those who are seeking those services.

Lt. Palladino received the Deflection Officer of the Year award as the individual police officer within Burlington County who made the most calls to Operation Helping Hand.

"We congratulate Lt. Palladino, who received this prestigious recognition for his unwavering dedication to combating the opioid crisis through proactive outreach within our community," said the MLPD in a statement. "Over the past year, Lieutenant Palladino has established invaluable partnerships with various organizations, engaging deeply with the community and providing substantial support to those battling addiction. His efforts have made a significant impact, helping to steer individuals toward resources and assistance they need."

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"Congratulations to Lt. Palladino, affectionately known as 'Officer Jeff' in the community, on this well-deserved award. Your hard work and commitment to making a difference are truly commendable."

The BCPO has made deflection a key priority, as it creates early, supported pathways to recovery with the goal of providing access to treatment before a person enters the criminal justice system. According to the BCPO, the number of people who fatally overdosed in Burlington County dropped from 156 in 2019 to 104 in 2023, and is on track to be even lower for calendar year 2024.

In addition to Operation Helping Hand , the BCPO has spearheaded the Straight... to Treatment program since 2018 . The program is available at 10 police departments in Burlington County —in Bordentown Township, Burlington Township, Burlington City, Delran, Evesham, Maple Shade, Mount Holly, Palmyra, Pemberton Township and Willingboro. Through the program, individuals can walk into the police station — no appointments are needed— where they will be connected with a recovery coach. Drugs can be surrendered without charges being filed. The program is open to everyone, regardless of where they live and regardless if they have insurance to cover the cost of treatment.

Since the inception of Straight... to Treatment, more than 1,000 people have been placed into treatment programs through the participating police departments.

In addition to the MLPD and Lt. Palladino, several other police departments and c ommunity organizations were recognized at the Law Enforcement Deflection Recognition Breakfast, including:

• Community Partner Award given to Agape, recognizing a community partner who went, and continues to go, above and beyond to serve people facing addiction within Burlington County.
• Call Out of the Year Award given to Pemberton Township Police Department Officer LaQuan Jett. This award was voted on by the peer recovery coaches working within the Operation Helping Hand and Straight … to Treatment programs.
• Straight... to Treatment Service Award given to Delran Township Police Department Officer Kevin Pfeffer. This award was voted on by the peer recovery coaches working within the Operation Helping Hand and Straight... to Treatment programs.
• Recovery Coach of the Year Award given to Trish Baum. This award was voted on by fellow coaches and supervisors, with input considered from municipal police departments.
• Special Recognition Awards were given to Jamie Wood and Lyssa Coleman.

For more information about drug and alcohol recovery resources provided by the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office, visit https://burlpros.org/community-outreach/opioid-treatment/ .

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