Join us this Wednesday, September 30th from 1:00PM-1:30PM CST for a discussion with Joe Bales! Joe will be discussing: 1. The first 3 years of MARI 2. Preliminary results 3. how the program has recently expanded.

In January 2016, Captain Joe Balles retired from the City of Madison, WI Police Department after completing a 32+ year career. Captain Balles earned a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the UW-Platteville (1983), a master’s degree in public affairs from the La Follette Institute of Public Policy at the UW-Madison (1988). Captain Balles is also a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy (2006). He has been busy in retirement providing safety and security related services and technical assistance to police departments across the United States and the the Madison Metropolitan School District. In March 2017, Captain Bales and Safe Communities of Madison-Dane County were selected by the City of Madison to provide project coordinator services for the MPD’s Madison Area Recovery Initiative (MARI). This new and innovative approach to addiction establishes a “pre-arrest diversion pathway” or process whereby MPD police officers are be able to refer and facilitate clinical assessment and treatment for individuals battling the disease of addiction.