Morris County Sheriff's Office Hope One Vehicle Visits Montclair To Help Opioid-Dependent Individuals Reclaim Their Lives

Published on April 19, 2019

The Morris County Sheriff's Office Hope One mobile recovery and resource vehicle debuted Thursday at Glenfield Park in Montclair, where the program received a nod of approval from Montclair State University Police Chief Paul M. Cell, president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

From left, Montclair State University Police Chief and President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Paul M. Cell with Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon beside Hope One at Glenfield Park in Montclair on April 18, 2019.

Hope One, which launched in Morris County on April 3, 2017, spent five hours at the park at the request of Montclair Deputy Police Chief Wilhelm Young and Detective Sergeant Charles Cunningham, who are seeking ways to stem overdoses by individuals who are addicted to opioids, including heroin and fentanyl.

Chief Cell, president of the world's largest professional association for police leaders, stopped by the park Thursday afternoon to meet with Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, Undersheriff Mark Spitzer and the Hope One staff.

I think by making it simple and focusing on the guardian roles of police on the issues of addiction and mental illness in our communities, it really helps community members understand, support and come forward if they're in need of help, Chief Cell said.

I think Hope One clearly has the elements that are needed to be a successful program that could be taken to the national level, Chief Cell said.

At Glenfield Park in Montclair with the Morris County Sheriff's Office Hope One Vehicle on April 18, from left, are: Morris County Undersheriff Mark Spitzer, Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris Director of Self-Help, Advocacy and Education Madine Despeine, Morris County Sheriff's Office Corporal and Coordinator of Hope One Erica Valvano, Montclair Police Department Detective Sgt. Charles Cunningham, Montclair Deputy Chief Wilhelm Young, Family Promise of Morris County Care Navigator Ashley Reed, Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, Montclair Police Chief Todd Conforti, CARES Peer Recovery Specialist Caroline Bailey, and Montclair Fire Department Chief John Herrmann.

Both Chief Cell and Deputy Chief Young noted the simplicity of the program, which was duplicated in 2018 by the city of Newark which created its own Hope One-Newark program.

The Morris County Sheriff's Office Hope One is a retrofitted SWAT vehicle that was stripped of all police markings, painted white and purple and adorned with the words Hope One and the logos of its partners: Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris Counties, Center For Addiction, Recovery, Education & Success (CARES-NJ), and Family Promise of Morris County.

In Morris County, the vehicle parks bi-weekly in neighborhoods where drug overdoses and drug sales are documented. In non-judgmental style, the staff “ Sheriff's Office Corporal Erica Valvano, and professionals from the partnerships - put out snacks, coffee and toiletry bags and encourage people to board Hope One for Narcan training and information and referrals to detox and substance use recovery facilities, and mental health programs.

I think it's genius, said Montclair's Deputy Police Chief Young.

For this idea to come from law enforcement, that's another way of bridging the gap between community and police, he said.

Sheriff Gannon said he was thrilled Chief Cell stopped by and that the Montclair police requested Hope One's presence in the Essex County-owned Glenfield Park.

As a society, we all can have a part in helping people reclaim their lives from drug dependency. Because police are familiar with people in their towns who are struggling with addiction, they're in perfect positions to help guide them to resources, Sheriff Gannon said.

The Morris County Sheriff's Office Hope One Vehicle at Glenfield Park in Montclair on April 18, offering snacks and coffee to visitors who want Narcan training and information on substance use disorders and treatment, and mental health and social service resources.

On Thursday, CARES peer recovery specialist Caroline Bailey trained 7 people on how to administer the nasal spray Narcan to a person in the throes of an overdose. They included a man who knows two people who overdosed, and a mother whose daughter overdosed in front of her and continues to struggle with heroin dependency.

Others who visited Hope One in Montclair picked up brochures and literature, including two nurses.

Since April 2017, Hope One has had contact with 6,517 individuals, trained 1,703 people in Narcan use, assisted 95 people with mental health resources, and arranged for 104 people to be sent to detox or substance abuse centers.

Montclair Police Chief Todd Conforti and Fire Department Chief John Herrmann also stopped by the park and expressed admiration for Hope One.

I think it's great to reach out to the community like this. Having Hope One come out today and provide these services is probably one of the best things we could have done, Chief Conforti said.