Press Releases

08/14/01
South Bay Elder Abuse Coalition Receives Attorney General’s Award

On Tuesday, August 14th, 2001, the KEEP SAFE (Keep Every Elder Protected-Stop Abuse and Financial Exploitation) Coalition received the California Attorney’s Distinguished Service Award for Elder Abuse Investigation, Team category.

The award was presented by Attorney General Bill Lockyer at the Elder Crime Investigation & Prosecution Conference in Palm Springs.

Accepting the award on behalf of the KEEP SAFE Coalition were Karen Liebig of the Julius Sumner Miller Foundation and Torrance Police Chief Jim Herren and Redondo Beach Police Chief Mel Nichols (representing the South Bay Chief’s of Police).

The Attorney General’s Office offers annual awards in team and individual categories to investigators and prosecutors for efforts that exhibit innovation and service in the protection of California’s elderly.

The KEEP SAFE Coalition is comprised of South Bay financial institutions and senior services as well as local police departments and the District Attorney’s office. The goal of KEEP SAFE is to increase communication and coordination among its members to prevent and respond to the financial abuse of elders, and provide training for its members and within the community on the subject of elder financial abuse. KEEP SAFE believes that this coordinated approach can reduce the occurrence of elder financial abuse in the South Bay and maximize the identification, arrest and successful prosecution of abusers.

For more information contact Lt. John Skipper, Redondo Beach Police Department at 310-379-2477 extension 2334 or Ofcr. Dave Crespin, Torrance Police Department at 310-618-6391.