Georgetown PD launches “Operation Hope”

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (WTVQ)- Police in Georgetown have launched a new program to help those struggling with drug addition find treatment rather than be arrested.

The program is being called “Operation Hope” because those involved say it looks to bring a little hope to those who may currently feel hopeless.

The program is called the Operation Hope Angel Program and what police say it will do is allow people struggling with addiction to walk through the doors of the police department and ask for help without fear of being arrested.

In recent years, Georgetown police say drug use has become one of their biggest challenges.

“Not just the victims that are caught up in addiction but the victims of the victim,” said Georgetown Police Chief Michael Bosse.

To try and solve this growing issue police are turning away from simply arresting addicts and now looking to focus on helping them find treatment.

The new program will allow anyone seeking drug treatment to come into the police station, turn over any drugs they may have, ask for help and a group of specialized officers will try to get them into a treatment center that very same day with no threat of criminal charges.

“We want to make this an easy process for them. We want families who are struggling and don’t know where else to go, to be able to come in here and make the police department a place that people know will help them,” said Meghan Shook, with Operation Hope Angel Program.

Those who work at treatment centers say programs like this are exactly what is needed and say they hope more police departments will follow in Georgetown’s footsteps.

“We need as many front doors and places for people to go and enter into services as possible and law enforcement is interfacing with this problem on a daily basis,” said Don Rogers with Bluegrass.org.

Leaders of this program say they are looking for volunteers in the community to become mentors to those entering this program. For more information on how you can become a volunteer head to http://www.georgetownky.gov/2155/Police-Department.