BUCYRUS — Bucyrus Police Chief Dave Koepke recently spoke at the 2019 International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Chicago.

The focus of the event on Oct. 29 was, “Responding to the Opioid Crisis in Rural America: Police and Treatment Partnerships,” and Koepke spoke about the response and partnerships that were formed in Crawford County to address the drug addiction crisis.

Koepke said he represented the rural law enforcement agencies and their response to the opioid epidemic.

“In 2009, the over-prescription and distribution of opiates were spreading around Crawford County. From 2004 to 2008, about 500,000 opiates were distributed throughout the county out of a Galion pain clinic, also known as a pill-mill,” Koepke said.

He said there also was a pain clinic on North Sandusky Avenue in Bucyrus.

“Both doctors were arrested, and their pain clinics were shut down,” he said.

He said that in 2007 and 2008 there were 12 and 10 fatal overdoses.

“As Crawford County was per capita number two of 88 counties in Ohio for unintentional overdose fatalities over the course of the drug epidemic,” Koepke said. “In Crawford and Marion counties (from 2009-18), there were more than 19,000 years of people’s lives lost from drug overdoses.”

He said it was at that point that people throughout the community began to step up to find solutions to the problem.

“A group of moms banded together to form the group, Together We Hurt Together We Heal, with the motto ‘doing nothing is not an option,’” Koepke said. “We also had the Alpha 12-Step Recovery Treatment Program formed by Margie Maddox and later, we now have several transition and sober living houses, including the Jericho and Taylor transition houses.”

The first Community Care March was held by the Together group in 2011 with people of all ages participating.

“The crowd included survivors of drug addiction, co-dependents and community and family members,” Koepke said.

He said two tough judges, Shane and Sean Leuthold, were elected and began to crack down on defendants.

“It’s a tough drug and we have to be tough. Parents and family were urging us to arrest loved ones. In 2013, Crawford County had 209 felony indictments. Annual indictments have doubled to more than 400 and are on pace for 500 in 2019,” Koepke said. “In 2014, with the assistance of the Crawford-Marion ADAMH Board, Bucyrus was one of the first locations in Ohio with officers equipped with Project DAWN kits.”

He said his department began to focus more on reducing demand while also reducing the supply with the creation of the Crawford County Special Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Fundraising efforts to support intervention programs have been underway for several years to aid in the response to decrease the pace of overdose incidents.

The department offers the Operation HOPE program that is headed up by Santana Stamper.

“Since it began in 2016, the number of participants in Operation HOPE is now over 200,” Koepke said. “For many, it is an introduction to treatment and multiple attempts are necessary and made. We have a network of peer recovery coaches who receive training to help others enter into treatment. Also, Judge Shane Leuthold has developed the Reinvention Program through his court.”

Koepke said the current trend of drugs in the area includes the combined use of heroin, fentanyl and benzodiazepines, and Methamphetamines have made a comeback.

Support groups available in Crawford County:

  • Crawford County Municipal Court Reinvention program: Partnered with North Central State College – operates a classroom building adjacent to the Crawford County Court House. Case study success stories and 90% success rate for both men and women. The Reinvention Program has seen people come out of addiction to become clean and sober and to have a career.
  • Alpha 12-Step recovery – Has a residential treatment house for women, secure and supervised 24/7 with in house therapy and it is a faith-based program
  • Together We Hurt Together We Heal operates Willow House for women and Sycamore House for men