The Plymouth County Comfort Dogs at the 2024 Marshfield Fair
The Plymouth County Drug & Alcohol Resistance Education Summer Program is sponsored by the District Attorney´s Office, the Plymouth County Police Chiefs, and the Drug Education/School Resource Officers. The program, offered free of charge, is a one-of-a-kind experience that blends cultural diversity, education, and fun.The summer program provides a structured environment that instructs young people on responsibility, leadership, risk identification, decision-making, discipline, awareness, and most importantly, how to say no to drugs and alcohol. The course framework helps participants to recognize the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse and other illegal activities. By combining outdoor activities with Drug & Alcohol Resistance Education lessons we create a unique environment for children to foster growth and respect under the guidance of peer leaders, Drug Education Officers and School Resource Officers from their own communities.
District Attorney Tim Cruz joins the Boston 25 Zip Trip to Rockland to discuss the Plymouth County Comfort Dogs program.
Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz host a meet and greet with Comfort Dog Teddy from the Norwell Police Department.
The Plymouth County District Attorney is pleased to announce our newest Plymouth County Comfort Dog – K9 Blue of the Scituate Police Department.
Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz speaks at the White Ribbon Event in Plymouth, MA.
Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz and Hanson Police Comfort Dog Ziva have coffee hour at the Hanson Council on Aging.
District Attorney Tim Cruz introduces the Plymouth County Comfort Dog Program to the Halifax TRIAD
District Attorney Cruz has developed the Plymouth County Comfort Dogs Program to provide additional services and resources to our communities. The pilot program has been designed to be implemented by either the local School Resource Officer or the Police Departments Community Outreach Officer, who in turn becomes the dog’s handler and caretaker. Both the handler and the comfort dog become members of the Plymouth County Comfort Dogs Program and are required to undergo all necessary trainings in the certification process to qualify as a comfort/therapy dog. Both the handler and comfort dog are available to assist not only in their community, but in all communities across Plymouth County. Our network of Plymouth County Comfort Dogs are present in our schools and are on hand to provide emotional support for students during the day, and available to the community at night and on weekends. Additionally, the handler and the comfort dog work with the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office staff at community events across Plymouth County and provide comfort services at our Children’s Advocacy Center and office. We currently have 15 Comfort Dogs in our program.
Puppy Love – A Candid Conversation on 21st Century Dating and Healthy Friendships Presented by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, Bridgewater State University and The Plymouth County Comfort Dogs Program, in association with the Ventress Memorial Library.
The Plymouth County Comfort Dogs attend coffee hour at the Halifax Council of Aging.
Plympton Carver TRIAD Gives Back for the Holidays
In 2005 the Plympton Police and Carver Police Departments created the Plympton Carver Regional Triad program. In partnership with the Plympton and Carver Fire Departments, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department, The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and the Senior Centers in each town the program provides supportive services and events to enhance the quality of life for our local seniors. We run various events together including a TRIAD Holiday party with food, raffles and fun!
The first Plymouth County Comfort Dogs Meet and Greet, at JB’s Indoor Dog Park in Norwell.
We would like to welcome our newest comfort dogs to the Plymouth County Comfort Dog Program. Aggie – Plympton; Roxy – Halifax; Sasha – Pembroke.
Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz toured local stores and talked with lost prevention experts throughout Plymouth County for the NDAA National Store Walk Month initiative. National Store Walk Month is a groundbreaking initiative conceived by the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA). Set to launch this September, National Store Walk Month is a solution-oriented response to the growing challenge of organized retail crime and its significant societal impact.
It’s with a heavy heart that we pass along the news that Hanson K9 Officer Lucy, a beloved member of the Plymouth County Comfort Dog family passed away on 8/24/23.
Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz joins Boston 25 when they visit Whitman, MA on a Zip Trip to talk about the Plymouth County Comfort Dog Program.
The Plymouth County Drug & Alcohol Resistance Education Summer Program is sponsored by the District Attorney´s Office, the Plymouth County Police Chiefs, and the Drug Education/School Resource Officers. The program, offered free of charge, is a one-of-a-kind experience that blends cultural diversity, education, and fun. The summer program provides a structured environment that instructs young people on responsibility, leadership, risk identification, decision-making, discipline, awareness, and most importantly, how to say no to drugs and alcohol. The course framework helps participants to recognize the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse and other illegal activities. By combining outdoor activities with Drug & Alcohol Resistance Education lessons we create a unique environment for children to foster growth and respect under the guidance of peer leaders, Drug Education Officers and School Resource Officers from their own communities.
District Attorney Cruz gives Opening Remarks at the 2023 Handle with Care Conference.
Handle with Care is program that helps bring together Police, Fire and School departments to notify the schools that a children might need a little extra support the next following an interaction of any kind with police or fire.
In this panel discussion Plymouth County leaders talk about how they implemented the Handle with Care program in their schools and the effects it had on their community.
Handle with Care Conference: The Plymouth County Comfort Dogs Program Presentation.
Hingham School Resource Officer Tom Ford leads a discussion around the Plymouth County Comfort Dogs program. The comfort dogs program has had far reaching benefits to the local communities and to the school systems of Plymouth County.
President of The Massachusetts District Attorney’s Association Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz gives the welcoming remarks at the 2023 MDAA Conference.
District Attorney Cruz addresses the Brockton Rotary Club.
District Attorney Tim Cruz addresses the parents of Notre Dame Academy, in Hingham and gives a presentation on Underage drinking and the liabilities that parents face they are social host for underage drinking.
Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz gives talk about financial crimes targeting the elderly at the Plymouth Rotary Club on March 27, 2023.
The White Ribbon event seeks to engage men and boys as allies in stopping the scourge of gender violence.
Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz created a human trafficking task force that includes law enforcement, victim services, and other agencies which combats human trafficking through community education and outreach, comprehensive victim services, and holding those who traffic people accountable. The task force aims to raise awareness, educate the community about what human trafficking is, what it looks like in Plymouth County, and how people can help. Human trafficking is happening in many forms in Massachusetts, including in Plymouth County, and it is often unidentified and misunderstood. Vulnerable groups, such as LGBTQ+ individuals, those experiencing homelessness or substance use disorders, and youth, are at higher risk of being exploited and recruited by traffickers. Traffickers use social media and other online sites for recruitment which puts children in danger. First-line professionals, such as school counselors, teachers, and health care providers, often miss opportunities to help victims because of the lack of training on red flags and what to do when finding a trafficking situation. Identifying red flags and being aware of the problem is the first step in finding a solution.
This Saturday, October 29, 2022 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Please dispose of your unwanted or expired medications at a Med Return Drop box location near you. Drop Boxes are located in the lobby of all 27 Police Departments across Plymouth County, as well as in the lobby of the Police Departments at Bridgewater State University, Massasoit Community College and Stonehill College
The Plymouth County Drug Abuse Task Force, led by the district attorney and sheriff, aims to identify children in Plymouth County impacted by substance use in their home and connect their families to services. They offer training to first responders and schools on trauma-informed practices based on the science of the CDC Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. To address childhood trauma and give children healthy coping strategies, they developed a communication protocol between first responders and schools called “Handle with Care,” which notifies schools to give extra support to children who have encountered any potentially traumatic situation. The Handle with Care protocol has been effective in decreasing office referrals and suspensions in schools. The Drug Endangered Children Initiative of the Plymouth County Drug Abuse Task Force, aims to offer education, training, and services to children coping with Adverse Childhood Experiences and drug-induced children. They also connect families impacted by overdose to resources and services.
Plymouth County Difference Makers- Marshfield Rib Cook Off
Plymouth County Difference Makers- Pastor Michael & Eva Gilbert
Unity Basket Ball opening night
Public Service Announcement: The Make it Home Campaign- Make it home safe use a rideshare.
Please join District Attorney Tim Cruz, Chief Richard Nighelli, Superintendent Michael Nelson, Town Administrator Jay McGrail, Selectmen Norm Hill, Officer Connor Flynn and Officer Adam Nawoichik as they announce the launch of the Handle With Care Program in the Town of Marion. The Plymouth County District Attorney, Tim Cruz, announced the expansion of the Handle with Care program to the town of Marion, Massachusetts. The Handle with Care program, created in 2018, is a trauma-sensitive initiative for schools to help children who have experienced traumatic events. The program involves collaboration between schools and law enforcement to support students in need of emotional and psychological assistance. The Marion Police Chief praised the Handle with Care program for bridging the communication gap between law enforcement and schools, ensuring students are provided with the support they need to cope with traumatic events. The program allows law enforcement to report any traumatic events experienced by students to school administrators, who can then provide the necessary support. The Superintendent of Schools in Marion also expressed his support for the program, which he said had been instrumental in ensuring students and families receive the care they need.
Please join District Attorney Tim Cruz, Chief Mike Botieri, Dr. Chris Campbell, Melinda Kneeland and Ed Jacoubs as they announce the launch of the Handle With Care Program in the Plymouth Public Schools.
The Handle with Care program aims to help children who have been exposed to violence or trauma. The program seeks to connect police officers, school personnel, and other professionals to work together to ensure that children who have been exposed to trauma receive the support and resources they need.
The program has been successful in the past and is being implemented more widely now, especially given the challenges that children are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials from the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office, the police department, and the United Way are all involved in the program. The officials emphasized the importance of having a strong relationship between the schools and the police department to intervene and help children when necessary.
On February 13, 1984, 59-year-old Virginia Hannon was found strangled and stabbed in her home in Pembroke, Massachusetts. For 37 years, law enforcement and the Hannon family have sought justice for her unsolved murder. On March 4th of 2021, the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office announced that they had identified Virginia Hannon’s killer as Jesse Aylward. Over the years, the police conducted extensive investigations, interviews, DNA testing, and forensic genealogy testing.
Unfortunately, previous attempts at identifying the killer using DNA technology failed. However, in 2020, a tip from a man led to State police detectives obtaining a warrant to obtain blood from Aylward, which matched the DNA found on the crime scene evidence. Retired Pembroke Police Chief Wall spoke at the announcement about the ongoing work on this case since 1985.
The “Handle With Care” program enables first responders to notify schools if they encounter a child at a traumatic scene, so schools and mental healthcare leaders can provide trauma-sensitive support right away. The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office has all the resources necessary to start a Handle With Care program in your community.
Handle with Care aims to help children who have been traumatized by events such as witnessing domestic violence. The program works by law enforcement identifying children at the scene of a traumatic event and sending a confidential notice to the school or childcare agency the child attends, saying to handle the child with care. The notice does not give any details about the incident but alerts the school to the fact that the child has been through a traumatic event, which could impact their behavior and academic performance. The program aims to create trauma-sensitive schools by training teachers and staff on the impact of trauma on learning and providing interventions to mitigate the negative impact of trauma for identified students. This includes small group counseling, referrals to counseling and social services, and school-wide interventions to create a welcoming and trauma-sensitive environment for all students. The program also aims to build positive relationships between law enforcement and students by having officers visit classrooms and interact with students on a regular basis.
Meet the Author: Jarrett Krosoczka was a free virtual event brought to you by the Plymouth County District Attorney in partnership with the DEC Initiative. Jarrett Krosoczka is the award-winning author of “Hey Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father and Dealt with Family Addiction”, a graphic memoir appropriate for ages 12 and up. This virtual event is geared towards: • grandparents raising grandchildren • school staff • middle school librarians •art teachers