MCPF along with the MCP and other County Officials, welcomes the launch of the COPE Trailer

On February 10th, the Montgomery County Police held a press conference to unveil the “Community Opioid Prevention Education” (COPE) Trailer at the office of the County Executive in Rockville, MD.  Chief Marcus Jones, County Executive Marc Elrich and Councilman Sidney Katz, Chair of the County Council’s Public Safety Committee, each spoke of the importance of education awareness and the adverse impact that drug abuse is having on our community.  

Too often the problem of drug abuse is a surprise to families and loved ones and a tour of the COPE Trailer can be an important effort to inform the public about warning signs that a loved one may be a victim of or susceptible to the epidemic of opioid abuse.  Capt. David McBain, who spearheaded the acquisition and construction of the COPE Trailer, explained how the  trailer, which would replicate a student’s bedroom and bath room and provide the Police with the ability to demonstrate to parents how easily drugs can be hidden in a home. Funding for the COPE Trailer was provided by the Montgomery County Police Foundation, the Montgomery County Public Schools and other government agencies.  As part of the press conference members of the press and the community were provided with a tour of the trailer and discussed how the COPE Trailer can be deployed throughout the County at various public and special events.

The MCPF approved funding to support for this MCP initiative in September 2019 to expand community awareness and education related to opioid and drug abuse. Mr. Greg Wims, a Director for MCPF also spoke, and indicated the Foundation’s willingness to support the MCP and its various community and education initiatives. In the past the MCPF Board has also provided funding for the purchase of NARCAN kits to be used by the Police in overdose situations and to provide funding of the MCP’s D.A.R.E. Program, which teaches about drug abuse and education at the elementary level at certain schools.

For more information about the COPE Trailer and where and when it will be on display, please contact the MCP at (202) 674-7400 or mocopf@gmail.com.