Board awards $900 in opioid funding to CPD

Chief Richard Carley
Cottondale Police

Cottondale Police Chief Richard Carley requested $900 in opioid settlement funds to support officer participation in a certification program at the University of Miami. This program is focused on enhancing operational readiness to address opioid use disorder and related co-occurring conditions.

The $900 training cost will be split evenly with $450 from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and $450 from arrest revenue. These funds are explicitly earmarked for opioid-related training, aligning with the intended use of the settlement funds.

The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the funding request, allowing the Cottondale Police Department to move forward with the training initiative.

It was noted that other municipalities within the county were unaware of the availability of opioid training funds. As a result, the Board proposed drafting a formal letter to inform all local police departments of the opportunity. This step aims to promote broader participation and enhance county-wide preparedness in addressing opioid-related challenges. Other departments that would qualify for funding would be Graceville PD, Marianna PD, and Sneads PD.