The Bartlesville Police Department recently teamed up with a local Walgreens store to help area residents safely and legally dispose of unwanted prescription drugs in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s national “Take Back Day” campaign.
The event was held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 28 at the Walgreens parking lot on Frank Phillips Boulevard. According to BPD Capt. Rocky Bevard, 191 pounds of prescription drugs were collected during the one-day program — making the Bartlesville location the second highest performing in the state.
“Our results were No. 2 in the state, behind only one other collection site, located in Tulsa,” said Bevard. “Our results far exceeded expectations and were a resounding success.”
BPD Officer Troy Ali and Sgt. Nathan Mellen, both assigned to the Patrol Division on Baker Shift, helped man the station at Walgreens and the police department lobby, where prescription drugs were also collected.
“They did a great job on this special assignment, as well as taking care of regular duties at the same time,” Bevard said.
Following the event, the drugs were collected by DEA agents in Tulsa and destroyed.