On September 18th the Niles Police Department was recognized by the Maine Community Youth Assistance Foundation, MCYAF, at their 1st Annual Community Heroes Award Dinner.
The Niles Police Department through the leadership of Chief Dean Strzelecki worked cooperatively with MCYAF to place a prescription drug drop box inside the Niles Police Department. The Prescription Drug Drop Box allows the Niles Police Department to collect hundreds of pounds of unused, unwanted or expired prescription medication.
The Niles Police Department monthly removes between 50-90 lbs of prescription medication and vitamins from the drop box. This prevents these drugs and vitamins from entering into landfills and filtering back into drinking water. In addition, by providing the Prescription Drug Drop box, the potential for an accidental overdose is greatly reduced by removing these drugs from residents homes.
So important was this program that the Niles Police Department partnered with CVS Pharmacy to procure another Prescription Drug Drop box which will be placed at the Niles Senior Center.
Present for the Awards Dinner was Deputy Chief Joseph Penze, Sgt. Robert Tornabene and Chief of Police Dean H. Strzelecki.