“Hot Spot Cards” were developed eight years ago as a way to help Springfield residents report crimes anonymously, and to hold local authorities accountable for their response.

The cards have been so successful, organizers are hoping to soon make them available throughout Clark County. A rally to celebrate their success is scheduled at Covenant Presbyterian Church Tuesday evening.

Bill Salyers, who helped organize the rally, said the cards were first developed by a local organization called Justice Action Mercy in 2003. City residents at the time were looking for a new way to report crimes to local authorities anonymously. “This was a tool that anybody could use to send anonymous reports,” Salyers said.

Residents are able to fill out the cards with the appropriate information, and drop them off in the mail. The cards are delivered to a post office box and passed on to a Hot Spot Committee, which assigns a number to each card. The cards are then passed on to local law enforcement for investigation.

“Stephen Moody, chief of the Springfield Police Division, and Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly have both been supportive of the program,” Salyers said. Both meet regularly with the Hot Spot committee to review action taken on each card.

Salyers said since the program began, more than 50 percent of the tips have led to arrests, and another 20 percent are still being investigated.

The committee is now planning to extend their use.  “We’re trying to make it a tool for the entire county, not just the city,” he said.  Several organizations, including the Clark County Triad SALT Council and the Catholic Social Action Committee, work together to make sure the cards are available.

Salyers said “the cards are available at local law enforcement agencies, United Senior Services, 101 S. Fountain Ave., and will be available at local libraries”. 

The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) had its 5th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on Tuesday, June 15, 2010.

This day is held in support of the United Nations International Plan of Action which recognizes the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. Many organizations ranging from religious groups and government organizations to professionals in the field of aging, interested individuals as well as older persons themselves will promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by organizing activities around the world to raise awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.

Elder Abuse Awareness Day was celebrated at “The Mall at Prince George’s” in Hyattsville, Maryland and at the “Iverson Mall” in Temple Hills, Maryland. There were numerous information booths manned by the Prince Georges County Office of the Sheriff Triad Officers, Prince George’s County Police Department, State’s Attorney Office, Maryland Crime Victim’s Resource Center, Inc., The Office of 911, Prince George’s County Health Department, Register of Wills, Prince George’s County Fire Department /EMS, and the Department of Social Services etc. They were assisted by their Explorers who ran the “BINGO” games for the participating seniors. Seniors were informed about neglect, Abuse, Financial Crimes, Scams, Identity Theft and what to look for in everyday situations. They were given health screenings, door prizes and some even had their finger prints done at this event.

Everyone had a wonderful time and they are looking forward to another great event next year.  A special thanks goes out to Lorna Jones and Cindy Buie-Brown for their hard work and dedication to Prince Georges County TRIAD.

You are welcome to spend an evening in Tallahassee, Florida for a complimentary Wine Reception and a Silent Auction held at 6:00 p.m. Following that will be dinner and words from the keynote speaker. This event will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at the FSU Alumni Center located at 1030 W. Tennessee St. Tallahassee, Florida. You may purchase your tickets at $40.00 each by contacting April Hofmeister (850-606-6116) or Michelle Johnson (850-414-3384) or via email dvcctally@gmail.com  Mon – Fri (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)

“The world now knows me as the woman without a face. I would rather be remembered as the woman who would be a survivor.” – Carolyn Thomas, 2005

We’re working together to make a difference for crime victims and their families in the City of Tallahassee. Building & Promoting Laws, Services & Public Awareness of Victims Rights…The Tallahassee Police Department’s Victim Advocacy Unit 

Please join them in their efforts to raise community awareness of crime victim services and prevention as they celebrate Crime Victims’ Rights: Fairness, Dignity & Respect. Your organization’s attendance and participation will be greatly appreciated. A table will be provided for your organization to share brochures, pamphlets, handouts etc., (at no cost). This event will allow you the opportunity to embrace the many victims that are in need of your services, while informing the community of your organization’s services. Please contact Tenna Kirk if you would like to make a reservation for your organization and request a table. Tina Kirk can be reached via email at tkirk@lancaster-tx.com .

This event is free and open to the public. Many awards and prizes will be distributed.

For additional information regarding this event, you may contact Nakeya Fincher, Crime Victim Assistance Coordinator at 972-218-2751 or email her at nfincher@lancaster-tx.com.

The money that we have gotten from the 911 Cell Phone Bank  program has assisted women in abusive relationships in our rural communities. Here are a couple of examples where the money was used:

Funds were used to put our client’s abusive husband’s personal items into storage to keep him away from her  while he decided what he was going to do with his property. This insured that he did not need to contact her. During this time the abuser was out on bail for domestic violence (he had killed his brother).

During the Christmas season, while another lady’s spouse was in jail for domestic violence (strangulation), our client went to a metropolitan area to shop, leaving their two yr old son at home with a babysitter. The abuser cut off all of their credit cards and froze their bank account, leaving the lady stranded in the metropolitan area in their vehicle without a way to buy gas and return to her son. Funds that were generated from the phones we sent to the 911 Cell Phone Bank were used to get the lady back home safely to her son.

In addition, six emergency cell phones have been placed in the last year with abused women and their children. Two of the 911 phones were destroyed by the abuser and replaced. Thanks to the 911 Cell Phone Bank, these women and their children always had a way to call for help. Thank you, Maxine

Officer Caughlin attended the Crime Stoppers Convention that was held January 13 – 15, 2010 at the Imperial Palace Casino in Biloxi, MS. During the convention he was able to share information about the 911 Cell Phone Bank with the Sheriffs from multiple counties, Police Departments, and even some of the U.S. Marshalls. This event was open for the State, County and Federal levels only. He really got the word out there and it was well received. We really want to thank him for his tireless efforts he has demonstrated with our program. This is just some of the things he has done that I wanted to share with you to help you out with your collection efforts. It only takes making a first step. Thank you again Officer Caughlin and a big thank you to the entire community of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

I was able to attend multiple workshops. Some of them were refresher courses and some of them shared information that just astonished me. Above all, the two workshops that renew themselves in my mind daily are; “Creating a Successful State Triad” and “What is Triad? How Can We Enhance It?” I honestly ask myself daily, “why wouldn’t any state, county or community want to have a Triad?” It is a must, and it should be mandatory. As long as we have con-artists, scammers, abusers, thieves, dealer of all sorts, our seniors and communities need protection. If we cannot set aside an hour or two each month or day then shame on us. We will all be seniors/elders one day, (if the good Lord spares us to see those years) and we are going to want to have someone to look after and care for us. Your welfare is just as important as a strangers. That stranger may be your co-worker’s mother or father that is being abused. We need to get more involved and do our part while we can.

In my closing I have to say, I truly enjoyed talking to all of you and being able to answer all of your questions. I especially enjoyed the one on one conversations I had with some of my account representatives such as, Cindy Brown-MD, Kelli Brookshire-OK, Katie Walsh-IL, Sheriff Vanessa Crawford-VA, David Minns-VA, Cary Johnson–CO, Dale Gillette–IL, and of course Mrs. Butterworth-VA. They all really expressed an enormous concern for the seniors and you could feel the warmth within each of them and that’s what it takes. You all are appreciated, thank you for making the conference a success.

This was submitted by Elynne Greene, Victim Services Supervisor and Human Trafficking Task Force Director of the LVMPD.  Thank you Elynne…

In law enforcement, we are often in a reactive mode, rather than a proactive one.  Citizens can’t file a police report or request an investigation of a crime that hasn’t happened.  LVMPD has a very talented Crime Prevention Section in each of our Area Commands.  Now, we have another resource to help prevent crime which is the Catholic Charities. We have partnered with them on behalf of vulnerable seniors.  Over the last two weeks, we have distributed 20 phones throughout Clark County to homebound and vulnerable senior citizens without a home phone.  Many of these individuals also have medical issues and must rely on neighbors to call for help if they become ill! 

The emergency phones we receive from the 911 Cell Phone Bank are being provided with large print information about community resources and instructions for using the phones.  While we have had firsthand experience of the impact of one of these 911 cell phones saving a potential victim’s life, the ability to provide these phones as a lifeline and preventative tool for our vulnerable citizens is truly a gift! 

You are welcomed to join Triad Practitioners, Law Enforcement Personnel, Community Policing and Crime Prevention Officers, Victim Advocates, Social Service Providers, Adult Protection, and Criminal Justice professionals to learn how to keep older adults safe.

Workshop Topics Include:

• Pandemic Preparedness for Older Adults (Influenza H1N1)

• Aces 911 Cell Phone Bank & 911 Cell Phone Bank

• Helping Older Adults to Understand and Manage their Medications Safely

• Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers

• 10 Minutes or Less – Speaking Success

• Starting and Maintaining a Strong Triad

• Successful Triad Programs & Activities

 Registration Forms are available at: www.nationaltriad.org/Orlando09/ . Please direct your questions to Terri Hicks at terrih@sheriffs.org or 800-424-7827. For hotel reservations call: 800.327.0363

Recently I received an email from one of my clients that has been partnered with us for over two years. It literally gave me goose bumps after reading it. The little things we do can have a big impact on others. This is one of the reasons why I enjoy helping others.

Here is the success story Elynne Greene, the Victim’s Services Supervisor with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department shared with me.

Elynne provided a 911 Cell Phone Bank emergency cell phone to a very high risk victim of domestic violence.  Her abuser, who has been in and out of prison, had become very adept at avoiding the police, avoiding service of protection orders and getting through the courts with reduced charges. She had just about given up hope when she was given the emergency cell phone.

One investigator expressed the concern that it only calls 911. With the inability to locate the cell phone or even call back after it was disconnected, he really didn’t see the value of the phone. His final words were ”well it is better than nothing”.

That night, the abuser showed up at her residence. Before entering, he cut the wires to the landline phone so she could not dial 911. She quickly grabbed her emergency cell phone, ran into the bedroom and dialed 911. He had no idea that she would have access to a cell phone and as a result he was arrested and she is alive today!