LEAD Program Offers 'A Hand Up, Not A Handcuff'

ABERDEEN, MD — The Aberdeen Police Department launched a groundbreaking initiative in August 2024 that to date has changed lives and strengthened the bond between officers and the community, officials say.

Called the Law-Enforcement Assisted Diversion program, LEAD program allows officers to refer individuals who commit low-level offenses or are at high risk of arrest to case managers and social services rather than jail. With the support of partners at the University of Maryland, Upper Chesapeake Health and the Klein Family Center, APD officers help people access housing, mental health care, substance use treatment and vital services, including food assistance and school enrollment.

"Not every situation calls for an arrest," said Aberdeen Police Lieutenant Douglas Reitz, who spearheads the department’s LEAD efforts. "Sometimes what someone needs is a hand up, not a handcuff. That’s what LEAD is all about."

Since the program’s launch:

• 47 homeless individuals have been identified in Aberdeen.
• 27 referrals were made to the LEAD program with 23 individuals actively participating.
• Five people were placed in permanent housing and 8 more received temporary housing.
• Others received mental health care, substance use treatment and support navigating social services.

Case manager Monique Burgess works closely with the APD, riding along with officers and meeting individuals in parks, on the street and during police calls. She said many of the people they help “felt like they had reached the end of their rope” but LEAD has changed that.

One example of the program's success is when a family new to Aberdeen was connected with mental health services, enrolled their children in school and found community stability through the program. Another family experiencing homelessness while awaiting disability benefits was assisted in finding affordable housing thanks to LEAD.