Senator Jen Metzger (SD-42) this past week presented a New York State Senate Commendation award to Annette Kahrs, President of the Tri-County Community Partnership and Program Director of the Hope Not Handcuffs Hudson Valley program, in which participating police departments and trained community volunteers work together to help people battling substance use disorder get the treatment they need.
Middletown Police Chief John Ewanciw, Sergeant Allen Faust of the Goshen Police Department, and Chief Dominick Blasko of the Crawford Police Department were also in attendance, and are among the twelve Orange County Police Departments currently participating in the program. 
“Tackling the opioid crisis takes us all working together, and this is a remarkable community volunteer program that provides compassionate assistance to those struggling with substance use disorder,” said Metzger. “Annette Kahrs is most deserving of this Senate Commendation for her leadership in nurturing and expanding this life-saving program in the Hudson Valley, and I thank all of the volunteers and participating police departments who are helping to connect people with the treatment they need.”