Senior Crime Academy
TRIAD is a cooperative program sponsored by the AARP , the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Sheriff’s Association . The purpose of TRIAD is to get seniors and law enforcement to work together to implement crime prevention and public safety programs.
The local S.A.L.T. council, originally formed in May 1995, now includes AARP, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office , the Huntsville Police Department, the Madison County District Attorney’s Office , the Better Business Bureau or North Alabama , the Alzheimer’s Association , CASA , TARCOG , and the Senior community in Madison County.
A free Senior Crime Prevention Academy was established in 1996 to help seniors avoid becoming victims of crime. The Council, listening to senior concerns, added more public awareness programs from a variety of public and private agencies from the Federal, State, and Local levels. Semi-annual classes are held on Thursday afternoons for 11 weeks in the spring and in the fall. Current speakers include representatives of Council organizations, the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, EMA, and HEMSI. Topics include law enforcement structure and operations, court systems, scams, elder law, SWAT teams, hostage negotiations, community watch, self-defense, drugs, gangs, Satanic worship, homeland defense, and weapons of mass destruction.
The S.A.L.T. Council also sponsors free “Home Security Checks” conducted by the Huntsville Police and Madison County Sheriff’s Department.
ACADEMY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
- Increase seniors’ knowledge and understanding of law enforcement, the criminal justice system, as well as crime prevention and intervention.
- Provide an interactive forum for seniors and participating agencies to share information and enhance services for seniors.
- Educate seniors concerning their rights as consumers and/or victims.
