Pasadena Police Command Staff to Receive Treatment Center’s First ‘Outside the Box’ Award

The Pasadena Police Department’s command staff has been selected as the first recipient of the “Outside the Box” Award from Impact Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center, the city announced Thursday in the city manager’s weekly newsletter.

The recognition, which the city said will come at Impact’s annual gala, highlights what the city called the department’s longstanding collaboration with the recovery community and its commitment to innovative approaches that support public safety and wellness.

The award recognizes organizations that challenge convention and embrace new partnerships to drive meaningful change, according to the city’s announcement.

The city said that for decades the Police Department has worked with Impact and other partners to connect residents and families with comprehensive substance use treatment and behavioral health services, and that initiatives such as the Impact Alliance have strengthened relationships between law enforcement, individuals experiencing substance use disorders and the recovery community.

Newly assigned officers take part in what the city described as immersive training at Impact, an experience the city said gives officers firsthand understanding of addiction, recovery, trauma and reentry, enhancing their ability to connect individuals with appropriate resources and fostering a collaborative approach to public safety.

Department leaders, the city said, have demonstrated that public safety and recovery are complementary goals achieved through strong collaboration and innovative thinking. The city said the department’s efforts have expanded pathways into treatment and recovery services, helping vulnerable residents rebuild their lives and strengthening the well-being of the broader Pasadena community.

The city congratulated the command staff for what it called their leadership, vision and unwavering commitment to serving Pasadena, and said the award reflects a shared belief that lasting public safety is achieved through partnerships, compassion and a dedication to helping individuals find stability and hope.

Impact traces its founding to 1969 and was formally incorporated as Principles, Inc. in 1971, the year it relocated and established itself in Pasadena, according to the nonprofit’s website. The organization operates a residential campus at 1680 N. Fair Oaks Ave. with up to 130 beds, along with outpatient services and 56 recovery bridge housing beds at three sites in Pasadena and East Los Angeles.

Impact says it serves more than 260 people a day across its programs and describes itself as one of the original and last remaining drug court providers in Los Angeles County. The nonprofit is licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services and accredited by the Joint Commission.

Chief Gene Harris has led the Pasadena Police Department since Jan. 3, 2023, arriving from San Gabriel, where he had been police chief since 2016, according to the city.

The city’s announcement did not include a date, time or location for Impact’s gala, and no date for the event appears in the nonprofit’s public listings.

More information about Impact is available at impacthouse.com. More information about the Pasadena Police Department is available at cityofpasadena.net/police.

“We are deeply honored to receive Impact’s inaugural ‘Outside the Box’ Award,” Harris said in the announcement. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our department and our shared belief that lasting public safety is achieved through strong partnerships, innovative thinking, and a commitment to helping individuals find a path toward recovery and stability.”