Winthrop CLEAR Team Recognized by International Association of Police Chiefs for Leadership in Community Policing

WINTHROP — The Winthrop Police Department and the Town of Winthrop are proud to announce that the Winthrop Community and Law Enforcement Assisted Recovery (CLEAR) team has been recognized by the International Association of Police Chiefs (IACP) as one of the best Community Policing programs in the entire world. 

Winthrop Police and the Winthrop CLEAR Team were recognized at the IACP’s 2025 annual conference last month with the IACP/Walmart Leadership in Community Policing Award, one of several international awards presented by the IACP. 

Winthrop Police and Winthrop CLEAR stood out among hundreds of award applicants from around the world as they were recognized for the Police and Public Health partnership that has helped thousands of Winthrop residents battling Substance Use Disorder, resource scarcity, and more. 

Winthrop CLEAR, formed in 2014, is a collaboration among the Winthrop Department of Public Health and Clinical Services, Winthrop Police, and Winthrop Fire. CLEAR uses police data to find and help people struggling with substance use, mental health, and domestic violence challenges. 

Winthrop CLEAR has helped thousands of Winthrop residents since its formation and continues to be a state and national leader in providing accessible, wrap-around services to residents in need. Oftentimes the assistance provided by CLEAR helps police avoid making arrests or involuntarily committing people to emergency rooms. 

CLEAR helps residents who face challenges with substance abuse, mental health, resource scarcity, domestic violence, and veterans affairs. 

The award was presented at the IACP’s annual conference in Denver to Winthrop CLEAR co-founders Lt. Sarko Gergerian and Director of Public Health & Clinical Services Meredith Hurley. 

“With a $2 million health department budget and a 13-member team, Winthrop Police Department’s model is a beacon of innovation, proving that law enforcement can lead systemic change through empathy, collaboration, and community-centered care,” the IACP wrote regarding the award. 

“It’s a great honor to have our partnership with Department of Public Health recognized by our peers on an international stage,” said Chief John Goodwin. “We are thankful for the leadership of Director Hurley and Lt. Gergerian, and the hard work put in by the men and women from the Department of Public Health and the Winthrop Police Department. CLEAR, along with the dozens of non-enforcement related programs that the Winthrop Police Department run annually, are designed to win and maintain the confidence of the people we serve. The members of the Winthrop Police Department and the Department of Public Health commit themselves to these programs not just to build confidence with the community, but more importantly, because they truly care about the people they serve. I am honored to work alongside them.”

“CLEAR is a bridge between policing, public health, and community,” said Lt. Gergerian. “We use police data to proactively help keep people from ending up in coffins or cages. Today, that bridge is being built across the nation. If your heart is called to join, we’ll help you lay the first stone — just reach out.”

“The CLEAR model was built on the belief that every person deserves to be met with dignity, compassion, and opportunity for recovery — not punishment,” said Director Hurley. “This recognition by the IACP underscores what our community has known for years: when public health and public safety come together, we can create meaningful, lasting change that saves lives and strengthens trust. I’m incredibly proud of our team and grateful for the leadership and partnership that make this work possible.”

“I am eternally grateful and proud of our CLEAR Team and the fantastic work that they do every day,” said Town Manager Anthony Marino. “It is no surprise that they continue to receive National recognition as Health Departments and Police Departments from across the country continue to ask for training so they can model our program.”

To learn more about Winthrop CLEAR, visit: https://winthropclear.com/.

To learn more about previous winners of the IACP/Walmart Leadership in Community Policing Award, visit: https://www.theiacp.org/awards/iacpwalmart-leadership-in-community-policing-award.