Crime Prevention for Seniors

CRIME PREVENTION
FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

CRIME PREVENTION PRACTIONERS

TRIAD OF PALM BEACH COUNTY

NATIONAL TRIAD:

The American Association Of Retired Persons, The International Association Of Chiefs Of Police, and The National Sheriff's Association signed a cooperative agreement in 1998 to work together to reduce both criminal victimization and unwarranted fear of crime affecting older persons. Numerous local Triads have been established throughout the United States.

PALM BEACH COUNTY TRIAD:

On May 27, 1998, Palm Beach County Triad was formed. Triad's membership includes The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and other local police departments, Senior Citizens representatives, individuals with government and/or law enforcement experience community service providers, local municipal, County and State Government agencies and organizations, and citizens/organizations having an interest in reducing crime and victimization of senior citizens.

Since the first half of calendar year 1998, TRIAD Council members have been engaging in various activities. Such activities include:

1. Regular monthly, periodic and special meetings which are held on the first tuesday of each month at the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office in Palm Beach County, Florida.

2. Meeting and communicating with the National TRIAD and representatives from other local TRIADS throughout the United States and the State Of Florida.

3. Formulating the purposes, goals and objectives guiding and governing TRIAD, also meeting with law enforcement and government representatives who provide information, literature and training materials to further TRIAD purposes.

4. Forming and assisting in the formation of local citizen groups.

5. Arranging for the training of such local citizen groups, and

6. Meeting and communicating with sources of funding and support.Triad's purpose is to improve the quality of life of senior citizens in Palm Beach County.

The primary goals are to reduce the criminal victimization of senior citizens, to reduce the unwarranted fear of crime by senior citizens, and enhance the delivery of law enforcement service to the population.

TRIAD seeks to help senior citizens protect the person and property from crime, and by extension, makes the community in which they live a safer place for its residents.

Triad provides the opportunity for an exchange of information between law enforcement and senior citizens.

Triad is tailored to meet the needs of each community and is guided by senior advisory committees throughout Palm Beach County. In furtherance of this goal, TRIAD has undertaken a number of activities since 1998.

TRIAD has formed and helped form Senior Advisory Councils or "S.A.L.T's (Senior And Law Enforcement Working Together)" throughout various parts of Palm Beach County. TRIAD has also provided training for it's members and SALT participants through lectures by experienced government and private sector individuals and the distribution of literature.

The SALTS, in turn, will continue to work with community law enforcement agencies in protecting their neighborhoods and generally attempting to reduce crime and victimization.

TRIAD will continue to provide public groups with facts, figures and other research data about crime and crime prevention; with information on how to organize groups in their communities for these purposes and with instructions for planning and executing projects that will encourage residents of the community to be more conscious of public safety. TRIAD will also continue to seek financial aide and support, in furtherance of its purposes, objectives and goals.

TRIAD will also establish additional goals and objectives consistent with the needs of the above population and purposes, and act as a focal point for community participation in activities such as:

Receiving and addressing concerns of senior citizens
advising law enforcement leaders of the administration of service programs throughout Palm Beach County
assisting in the more efefctive use and integration of senior services in Palm Beach County
helping to develop community resources; and advocating for community programs and services

TRIAD will assist law enforcement in program planning that achives the following: Identifies gaps in service and unmet needs; recommends services or the deletion of existing services. TRIAD will evaluate recommendations annually and review said evaluations along with TRIAD activities at periodic and special meeting.

The engine that drives TRIAD is in the S.A.L.T. Council (Seniors And Lawmen Together). The S.A.L.T Council plans activities and programs to involve and benefit both law enforcement and seniors. Triad sponsored activities include information for older persons on the following:

How to avoid criminal victimization
Increased involvement in Neighborhood Watch
Home Security Information and inspections
Knowledge of current frauds and scams
Coping with telephone solicitations and door -to-door salesman
Elder abuse prevention, recognition and reporting
Training for deputies and officers in communicating with and assisting older persons.
Telephone reassurance programs for older citizens
Adopt-A-Senior visits for shut-ins
Emergency preparedness plans by and for seniors
Victim Assistance by and for seniors
Courtwatch activities.
Refrigerators cards with emergency medical information
Citizen Police Academy to educate the community
Information tables at senior centers and malls
Intergenerational projects beneficial to seniors and youth

WHAT TRIAD CAN DO:

When a seventy-year old man is the victim of a vicious attack after refusing to give up his wallet, Triad's victim assistance program helps him through the ordeal, from emergency room to courtroom.

Before sending a large advance fee to a company selling timeshare vacation condos by phone, a sixty-five year old retiree hesitates. She refers to information distributed during a TRIAD crime prevention presentation warning against just such a venture.

A frail and crippled widow will no longer be mistreated by her nephew because her newly assigned Triad buddy notices the bruises and reports the abuse.

A fiercely independent ninety-year-old man who lives alone won't lie helplesss for hours after a fall. Failing to get a call from him at the usual time, the volunteer receiving reassurance calls and contacts his neighbor. A deputy who is sent to investigate finds the man immobilized by a broken hip.

For Further Information On Palm Beach County Triad, please contact under Law Enforcement:

Robin L. Mayers, Triad Coordinator
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office
3228 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, Florida 33406
(561) 688-3091

These are only a few of the ways TRIAD aids the elderly.

NEW: TRIAD MEDICAL EMERGENCY PROTECTION

PALM BEACH COUNTY TRIAD is pleased to announce a new program that will assist our senior citizens in receiving the best, fastest, and most accurate medical emergency protection possible. This new program, entitled PALM BEACH COUNTY TRIAD "VIAL OF LIFE", will establish a medical record of the conditions and medications as it relates to a senior citizen. This record can be a life saving tool for paramedics when they arrive at a medical call.

A kit has been put together by PALM BEACH COUNTY TRIAD which will assist and individual providing the necessary identification and medical data. These kits will be distributed throughout the county by PALM BEACH COUNTY TRIAD.

For further information on PALM BEACH COUNTY TRIAD ''VIAL OF
LIFE'. Please contact under Law Enforcement:

Robin L. Mayers, Volunteer Triad Coordinator
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office
3228 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, Florida 33406
(561) 688-3091

Crime Prevention Practitioners are available to attend meeting of senior citizen groups to discuss crime historically targeting seniors. Discussions will include scams that target the elderly, security of homes, and personal protection when outside of home.

One month advance notice is usually required to have a deputy attend meetings.

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