MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - Manchester chief of police Nick Willard has been named to a new national task force charged with addressing the country’s opioid epidemic.
The nomination of Willard to the 24-member joint task force was announced Tuesday by the National League of Cities and the National Association of Counties. Willard is the only law enforcement representative among the collective, which is comprised of mayors, commissioners and other elected officials.
The task force will investigate ways to more effectively curtail drug abuse while looking into the development of workshops and forums for municipalities affected by the crisis.
New Hampshire set a state record with 428 drug overdose deaths in 2015. Of that figure, 96 were in Manchester.
The Northeast’s heroin epidemic gained national exposure through Manchester police’s Operation Granite Hammer.
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