Dear Residents and Friends,

At the December 11 City of Avondale Estates Board of Mayor and Commissioners monthly meeting, I had the pleasure of presenting Missy Owen, the executive director of the Davis Direction Foundation, with a certificate of appreciation from the City of Avondale Estates Police Department. The Davis Direction Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission "is to serve as a role model in our community in order to become a national resource for Opioid/ Heroin addiction awareness and change."

Missy Owen, along with the foundation's Medical Director Harold McLendon, recently provided the Avondale Estates Police Department training in the area of Opioid/Heroin awareness and Naloxone (NARCAN) use. Following the block of training, the Davis Direction Foundation provided starter kits of NARCAN to properly equip every Avondale Estates uniform patrol officer in hopes of reversing Opioid overdoses the officers might encounter.

Marshal Richard Berkowitz of the DeKalb County Marshals Department and current president of the DeKalb County Chiefs' Association was also in attendance to present Missy Owen and the Davis Direct Foundation with a check in the amount of $300 as a donation from the DeKalb County Chiefs Association on behalf of the Avondale Estates Police Department.

I want to take this opportunity to personally thank Missy Owen, Dr. McLendon and The Davis Direction Foundation for providing the Avondale Estates Police Department officers with the knowledge, training, proper use of and starter doses of NARCAN in an attempt to make a difference in the presence of today's Opioid/ Heroin epidemic.

I also want to give a big "thank you" to Marshal Berkowitz and the DeKalb County Chiefs' Association for taking my request for donation under advisement and ultimately presenting The Davis Direction Foundation with the funds that might allow the organization to continue its mission with Opioid / Heroin addiction awareness and change to others so that we might be better educated and equipped moving forward.

As always, feel free to contact the Avondale Estates Police Department at 404-294-5410 should you have any questions or suggestions.

Respectfully,

Lynn O. Thomas

Chief of Police