Former inmate honored by police for helping others turn their lives around Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY — For years, Dave Durocher’s life was defined by addiction, bad decisions and prison sentences.

Now, he’s being recognized by law enforcement for helping others avoid the same mistakes.

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Durocher, the Executive Director of The Other Side Academy in Salt Lake City, received an award from the Utah Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) during the National FOP leadership meeting this week

The conference, which brings together law enforcement leaders from across the country, is being held at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City.

“Our program works because it’s long. It’s structured. It’s not easy,” said Durocher. “I was a drug addict for over 27 years. I ended up getting arrested countless times and going to prison four times.”

But instead of becoming another statistic, Durocher turned his life around.

Today, he helps other addicts and former inmates recover.

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The Other Side Academy is a 30-month residential program that helps former addicts and offenders rebuild their lives through structure, accountability, and work opportunities.

The non-profit doesn’t take any funding from local, state or federal governments.

Instead, The Other Side Academy has several businesses its students work at to fund their own programs, such as a bakery and a moving company.

“That’s part of why it works,” said Durocher. “With other programs, when the funding runs out, you’re out the door even if you’re not ready. Here, you can stay as long as you want for free.”

Kevin Murray, President of the Utah FOP, said the program plays a crucial role in improving communities, which is why the organization decided to honor Durocher.

“We can’t thank them enough for the part they play in changing lives for the better,” said Murray. “Everybody is just one choice away from a good life or a bad life and to be able to make those changes to their life and to make good choices, it’s inspiring to all of us.”

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The conference also served as an introduction for Salt Lake City’s newly appointed police chief, Brian Redd, who spoke about the importance of collaboration between law enforcement and community organizations to help solve the very issues Durocher spoke about.

“The challenges we’re facing, the intersection of crime, homelessness, addiction and mental illness, they are incredibly complex,” said Chief Redd. “That’s why it is so important that we work together to find solutions.”

Redd, who was sworn in just weeks ago, was hired in part to help improve communication, cooperation, trust and transparency with the department.

He emphasized the need for that cooperation between police, social services, and recovery programs such as The Other Side Academy to help try and solve some of the issues Salt Lake City, and many other cities across the country, are facing.

“That is really important that we have cooperation, and I am going to continue to advocate that we all work together,” said Chief Redd.

Durocher believes that change is possible for anyone willing to put in the work.

“We want to make the world a better place, and we can do it,” said Durocher. “Our students can do it. We just have to give them the opportunity to become the best version of themselves.”

Read the original story at KSLTV.com.