President Allan introduced Chief Edward Dunne and presented him with a Recognition from the Rotary Club of Falmouth to the Falmouth Police Department for its protection of the citizens of Falmouth.  Chief Dunne thanked the Club and said it meant a lot to be recognized.  The Department wants to give back to the community.
 
Chief Dunne has been in the Police Department for 38 years and now is the Chief.  He recommended to us the Citizens’ Police Academy, which will run for ten weeks on Thursdays from 6:30 to 9:30 and begins on 9/17.  There will be ride alongs and you will wear a bulletproof vest.
 
The Department is authorized for 58 Officers and hired 11 last year, which means the department trends young and eager.  All those considered had a connection to Falmouth.  Currently 2 are attending the Police Academy in Randolph.  The Department assigns an officer as liaisons to each neighborhood of which there are 33.  Officers stop at all Falmouth Schools and there will be School liaisons this year. 
 
There was an important discussion about drug use and Narcan in response to a question from the group.  Falmouth has an Opiod Coalition which combats the presence of opiods.  The Department has done a good job of cleaning up pill factories in town and taking out the top dealers.  The merits of Narcan were frankly discussed by Chief Dunne and on average one person a day is brought back from death by drugs by the administration of Narcan which every officer has done.  It is important to recognize that drugs are an addiction not a choice which affects those in all walks of life.  Falmouth is fortunate to have the presence of recovery facilities in town.
 
Sam P spoke of how the Police Department has empathy for all those residents of Falmouth that it serves.  Thanks to Chief Dunne for his sharing the story of the Falmouth PD with us.  We are fortunate to be so well served.