Girl's Efforts Bring Drug Collection Box to Farmington

Juliana Tyner, now 12 years old, had a goal - to see unwanted medications disposed of without harming the environment. When she learned of a drug collection box at the Simsbury Police Department, she got to work petitioning police and town officials for a year to bring a similar box to Farmington.

On Monday her efforts paid off. 

Julianna was there at the Farmington Police Department Monday afternoon to cut the ribbon on the drug collection box and receive the cheers and congratulations of Town Manager Kathy Eagen, State Rep. Mike Demicco, Police Chief Paul Melanson, Officer Dan Aparo and a number of family and friends.

For Juni, it started with an article by Sloan Brewster announcing that on February 15, 2012, Simsbury would become one of eight towns in Connecticut to have a drug collection box. Julianna has a great love for all wildlife and was disturbed when she read about the effects that unused medication was having on fish in the Farmington River. After contacting the Farmington Police Dept and finding out that Farmington did not yet have a collection box, Juni started her campaign.  

Julianna contacted Simsbury's First Selectman Mary Glassman and their Chief of Police Peter Ingvertsen to find out more about their drug collection box; both responded immediately. She then contacted Ms. Eagen and Chief Melanson to let them know what she was trying to do.  Juni found out that their was an interest in getting a drug collection box for Farmington, but funding could be a problem...  No problem.  Juni started raising money for the cause, kicking it off with a fund-raising event at the Simsbury Police Precinct and by approaching a number of local establishments for donations.

While Julianna worked to raise money for the drop box, members of the Farmington Police Dept investigated what would be required for the precinct to install one.  Among the stipulations are that the box must be placed in an area that would allow for anonymity.  Also, emptying the box would require two officers to escort the discarded drugs and medication to an incinerator.
After the ribbon cutting, Police Chief Melanson presented Juni with a Citizens Award for her efforts.

Information submitted by the Tyners.