Now that Schuylkill County's drug court is underway, police officers should consider themselves an integral part of the treatment team, Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney James McMonagle Jr. said.

Speaking at Schuylkill's Law Enforcement Symposium Friday, McMonagle, an immediate past president of the Pennsylvania Association of Drug Court Professionals, told an audience of 59 people, mostly police, that their involvement is crucial.Because police know the people in their towns, they can keep an eye on the drug court defendants to alert their probation officers should they be seen hanging out with known drug users or in areas known to be drug sale hot spots, he said.Further, police can recommend people they know for participation in drug court."You are the eyes and ears of the community," McMonagle said.Police officers' motto has always been "to protect and to serve," with an emphasis on "protect," McMonagle said.But as prisons become clogged with arrested addicts, people are realizing that addicts need treatment to break the addictions that lead to repeated crimes.So now, the emphasis has shifted to "serve."Local police have what it takes to do that, he said.SuccessesDrug court is an intensive 14-month program involving treatment and accountability. Each defendant has to be willing to work hard with a team that includes a probation officer, an addictions counselor and others.Schuylkill County's drug court was launched in January and has three participants, said District Attorney Christine A. Holman.McMonagle said Luzerne's program is in its eleventh year."It seems to work," he said.He said that nationally, drug court has been shown to reduce crime by 45 percent in the communities they serve. Seventy-five percent of drug court graduates go at least two years without being arrested again.In addition to McMonagle, the audience listened to Alicia Fleischut, executive director of Clinical Outcomes Group, a private, nonprofit agency that provides drug and alcohol counseling and other services.The agency was among those named by Gov. Tom Wolf and the state Department of Human Services as a center of excellence.Centers of excellence, also referred to as health homes, coordinate care for people with Medicaid. Treatment is team-based and focused on the "whole person" with the goal of integrating behavioral health with primary care. The centers treat those addicted to opioids and who need help to navigate the care system and need guidance to stay engaged in treatment to avoid relapsing.The agency was among 45 of 116 applicants chosen for the designation, which comes with a cash award that will allow the agency to expand its services to more than double its clientele.Fighting drugsFleischut described how the agency treats those struggling with addiction.Kelly Examitas, director of financial operations and Liaison Emergency Responders for Clinical Outcomes, spoke about her efforts to help emergency medical services obtain Narcan, and anti-opioid drug, without breaking their budgets.West Penn Township Police Chief Brian Johnson introduced Gunner, his department's patrol/drug dog. Johnson hid drugs in the courtroom where the symposium was held, and Gunner immediately found them.Johnson spoke about Gunner's availability to other police departments.Schuylkill County coroner Dr. David Moylan spoke about Pennsylvania legalizing medical marijuana, and his concerns that it may lead to a bigger drug problem.State Sen. David G. Argall spoke about the importance of battling blight, with rehabilitating or demolishing vacant buildings to eliminate places for criminals to hide.Argall spoke of recent changes in the law that make it easier to track down and hold accountable absentee owners.