Brockton mayor promises action after discarded needles found

BROCKTON, Mass. — While the state took historic action Monday to fight opioid abuse families around the Commonwealth are still dealing with its effects.

A Brockton family says both of their children have found needles while playing outside their house.

“It's so concerning to think that if my daughter was to fall on her bike, you have to think, is there a needle in that bush,” Sean Richards said.

Richards says over the past year he's found so many needles he's lost count! He says one of his daughters, who was just three years old at the time, even found one!

“She would have picked it up if it had been further in the driveway,” he said.

Richards says when he found a syringe Sunday, he called police but says he was told there was nothing they could do.

“They told me they could give me an example of 10 other addresses that was worse than mine so I should be thankful,” he said.

FOX25 took his concerns to Brockton Mayor Bill Carpenter who promised to make sure no one ever heard that response again.

“I will follow up directly with the police chief to make sure that the dispatchers at the police department know how to properly handle those calls in the future,” Carpenter said.

Because of this story, Carpenter said the city will re-launch an awareness campaign about a "needle pick-up" hotline.

The City of Brockton has a hotline telephone number for anyone who finds improperly discarded needles (508) 583-2323. This number directs you to the Brockton Fire Department dispatch where they will help make sure the needle is properly disposed if.

Another concern for many is that the syringes are hard to spot.

Carpenter says they now have workers searching public areas, including playgrounds, parking lots, and schools.

Richards says he appreciates what the mayor has promised, and hopes the city continues to take action.

“We can certainly make it so 3-year-old kids don't have to worry about picking strawberries in the morning and pricking themselves,” he said.

Just this year the City of Brockton has also introduced an ANGEL program so addicts can go to the police station for help and not be charged with a new crime.

"We are working diligently on the details, but one of the major components is having volunteer "Angels" who will sit with the individuals, be a support and assist in phone calls to providers," Carpenter said.

Cox Media Group