John,

When Police Chief Tom Synan of Newtown, Ohio, was a kid he dreamt of being a police officer. "I was convinced if I was [able to become a police officer], I could make a difference in the world."

Recently, Chief Synan joined in an international discussion on addiction with the Global Commission on Drug Policy. He described the experience as "fulfilling my life's purpose beyond what I could imagine."

Watch Chief Synan's presentation here. He shares the story of how a tragedy in his small town led to a conversation in a local restaurant, which evolved into what is now the Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition. The coalition includes more than 40 agencies, with more than 100 local, state and federal officials, and an entire community working to address not only addiction, but other chronic social issues such as poverty, homelessness, and transportation -- changing the justice system to be more focused on community wellbeing and less focused on punishment.

The Coalition's goal is to save lives by ending the stigma of addiction and changing our response to one befitting a public health issue. Chief Synan says, "To see it evolve and now to share it with the world...has without a doubt been the most rewarding part of my career.

Although the mission to change how we view and deal with addiction is not over, I hope I was able to convey and highlight how a community came together for addiction and other social issues, how policing can be a positive part of the community, and how a community collaborating in the spirit of unity can change not just our part of the world but the world overall."

Thank you, Chief Synan! We honor your compassion, hard work, and persistence.

Donate now to keep LEAP recruiting innovative police with dreams of changing our justice system.

In solidarity,

Lt. Diane Goldstein (Ret.)
Executive Director

Law Enforcement Action Partnership
121 Mystic Avenue Suite 9 | Medford, Massachusetts 02155
781-393-6985 | [email protected]

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