Belleville Police Chief Mike Callaghan made one of his final speaking appearances at the Rotary Club on Thursday.
Speaking at Capers before an assembled crowd of Rotary club members, Chief Callaghan’s speech focused on the currently unfolding overdose and addictions crisis gripping the city.
Chief Callaghan says the issue isn’t unique to just Belleville, with other communities across the province grappling with similar addictions issues.
“Many experts suggest that there are impact factors that are needed in communities struggling to help addicts,” said Chief Callaghan. “We need a detox centre and a RAAM clinic – Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine.”
He also touched on police work to intercept drugs coming into the community, the strain the current crisis is putting on the city’s emergency services, and the compassion fatigue first responders begin to feel when they find themselves helping the same small group of people again and again.
Chief Callaghan has served on various police departments for 39 years, and is set to retire on June 30.
