Drug Intelligence Officer
New England HIDTA, Overdose Response Strategy
Williston, VT
James G. Downes III
Position: Drug Intelligence Officer Vermont
HIDTA: NE/ HIDTA
About James: James was born and raised in Groton, Massachusetts (approximately 30 miles outside of Boston). James settled in Vermont in 2016 upon appointment as Vermont’s Drug Intelligence Officer. James received a Bachelors in Criminal Justice from University of Massachusetts in 1987 and completed a Masters in Criminal Justice in 2004. James served in Law Enforcement for nearly 33 years and retired after serving 16 years as a Massachusetts Police Chief. James enjoys teaching and was employed for nine years as an adjunct criminal justice professor. Additionally, James developed curriculum and taught leadership programs within the region.
Current ORS projects and areas of interest:
Over the last year, James has been visiting federal, state, county, and local law enforcement and public health entities throughout Vermont in order to promote the mission of HIDTA. In addition, James has encouraged greater information sharing and collaboration in order to increase the effectiveness of the public health and public safety response to the opioid crisis. James has attended many meetings throughout Vermont including the Governor’s Opioid Coordination Council and learned of the great work being done by a variety of community stakeholders.
Over the last year, James completed a review of drug felony arrest seizure data within the state of Vermont . A contemporary review of Vermont data is continuing in order to determine if there are additional correlations between public safety and public health data which may assist stakeholder overdose response
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
8:00 AM – 9:15 AM