“I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am for the way you treat people, especially the ones who are addicted to drugs,” said Jon T., a Marysville community member who recently reached out to our department.

Amidst the daily hustle and bustle, many people suffer with a silent struggle—the battle against addiction. For Jon, this battle was personal and relentless. He vividly remembers his journey, saying, "Every time I was homeless and addicted, you guys were always kind to me and treated me with love and respect as you would someone who was not."

Jon reached out to our department, sharing his experience with our officers and our Law Enforcement Embedded Social Worker Program (LEESW). This program is more than just a service; it offers support for community members like Jon, offering compassion and resources. Jon’s journey was a turbulent one, marked by moments of desperation and determination. He vividly remembers the day he hit rock bottom, saying, "I went from smoking a quarter ounce of fentanyl powder a day to one night, 39 days ago, praying to God to deliver me from the sickness I was so unwillingly living in."

The mission of the LEESW Program is to help clients navigate the complex social service system and to remove the barriers that exist between addiction and homelessness, to sobriety and housing. The goal is to have individuals in need enter, engage, and successfully complete the necessary steps to be able to have a secure residence and return to being stable, productive, and healthy individuals.

"I appreciate you guys very much. I hope that somehow this message gets shared with the whole police force so that the ones that do know me and believed in me get to see that there was a reason they did,” said Jon. With each passing milestone, has gained a renewed sense of purpose, sharing his story for those still struggling. Jon reflected, "I know that's a lot, but I thought it might bring joy to some of you guys to see somebody who's striving and succeeding at beating something that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy."

Today, Jon stands tall, not as a victim of addiction, but as a survivor—a testament to the transformative power of compassion and support. Jon's journey is a reminder that with courage and compassion, every story has the power to inspire and heal.

For more information about this program, visit https://www.marysvillewa.gov/LEESW.