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Donnie Varnell – North Carolina Technical Assistance Center

Donnie Varnell

Law Enforcement Specialist

Contact Information

Donnie Varnell

Law Enforcement Specialist

Areas of Interest

Harm Reduction Programs, working with LE, LEA and first Responders, integrating 1st responders, and government agencies with service providers and HR based programs, anti-human trafficking programs.

About

Positions held: Investigator Dare County Sheriff’s Office, Retired Special Agent In-Charge N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition Consultant

Donnie is presently an investigator with the Dare County Sheriff’s Office, where he also sits on several state level committees combating prescription and opioid drug abuse, and presenting content involved with these matters. Donnie continues to work with law enforcement agencies and policy makers in promoting and enacting harm reduction-based programs such as syringe service programs and pre-arrest diversion concepts. Donnie also the coordinator for the Northeastern North Carolina Humane Trafficking Task Force.

 

Donnie was the director of the NCHRC’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program and also served as the NCHRC’s Policing Coordinator where he was heavily involved in the Naloxone Program for Law Enforcement and First Responders. He also assisted with developing and implementing harm reduction legislation. Presently Donnie presents and advises at the state, local and national level on issues dealing with the opioid crisis. Donnie is also a consultant for JBS International working on overdose prevention programs across the nation.

 

Donnie is a retired Special Agent In-Charge for the NC SBI Diversion and Environmental Crimes Unit (DECU) where he developed policy, conducted and supervised investigations dealing with prescription narcotics and environmental violations. Donnie has been an active-duty law enforcement officer since 1988.

  • Bachelor of Science in Justice

    Texas State University