Community Policing, TRIAD

Community Policing

TRIAD

TRIAD is a working cooperation between the Sheriff of a county, the Chiefs of Police of each municipality of that county, and the senior population. These entities are represented by a group refereed to as the "S.A.L.T. Council" "S.A.L.T." stands for "Senior and Lawmen Together".

The American Association of Retired Persons, (AARP), the International Association of Chiefs of Police, (IACP), and the National Sheriff's Association, (NSA), recognized the need in 1988 for a cooperative effort between seniors and police to work together to reduce both criminal victimization and unwarranted fear of crime affecting older persons. These three national organizations agreed that police chiefs, sheriffs, older leaders and those who work with seniors, working together, could devise better ways to reduce crimes against the elderly and enhance law enforcement services to older citizens. This, they believe, as do we, is true community policing, providing better service to a population which appreciates, respects, and supports law enforcement.

The Plymouth Police Department welcomed TRIAD when the organization began in Wisconsin at the state-wide kick-off conference April 1996 in Appleton. That conference allowed is to bring back the concept and develop the first TRIAD organization in Sheboygan County. Since that time, an "Agreement of Cooperation" was signed by the Sheriff and the Police Chiefs of each major municipality and the senior leadership of Sheboygan County.

We are also actively participating with the various community-service projects which have come out of the local TRIAD organization to benefit not only the senior population but law enforcement as well. Some of the projects accomplished by TRIAD in Sheboygan County include:

Vehicle winterization program for seniors
Sheboygan County Courthouse Greeter volunteer program
Law Enforcement non-emergency phone number magnet distribution
Emergency porch light flasher distribution
Outreach to all senior meal sites for bimonthly safety topics

The interest in TRIAD and senior citizen matters among Plymouth residents quickly became apparent by the large numbers of seniors who wished to participate in the organization and Plymouth started its own TRIAD organization in August of 1998.

Issues relevant to particular needs of Plymouth's senior citizens are presented and discussed at the Plymouth TRIAD meetings. For more information Contact Deputy Chief Chris Ringel, 893-6541.