District attorney creates special unit for elderly
WASHINGTON – District Attorney John Pettit Thursday announced the hiring of a special services victim advocate for elder abuse. Pettit said he decided to create the special unit after hearing a speaker from the state of California at the National District Attorneys Association in November. Following the presentation, the association adopted a resolution encouraging district attorneys across the country to develop programs to combat elder abuse.
“We have a program to combat crimes against women, we have a program to combat drug abuse, we have a program for victims of juveniles. We had nothing that would address the problems senior citizens are having in all walks of life,” Pettit said.
David Hammond, a 63-year-old retired schoolteacher from Washington, has been hired to address the problems of elder abuse in the county. He will be conducting crime prevention and personal safety programs at senior centers, libraries, and churches. Training will also be given to police officers and prosecutors regarding the special needs of elderly crime victims.
Funding for the program will come from the drug forfeiture program.
“I reviewed the cases in the county. It seemed to me that a lot of the people with problems with drugs were targeting seniors. It seemed we’d be fighting the war against drugs by fighting crimes against the elderly,” Pettit said.
Pettit said $12,000 will be used to fund the elder abuse advocate program, with $1,500 going to literature and office expenses and $10,500 going to Hammond for his part-time salary.
“Our idea is to be proactive on this. So many times in victims programs we get involved with people after they’ve become victims,” Pettit said.
Pettit said Hammond will initially work out of the district attorney’s office, but he will eventually be housed in an office at 96 North Main St. in Washington to help make the program more approachable for those who need it.
“When you have children or grandchildren involved with drugs who start abusing the elderly, you often find that the family doesn’t want to turn it over to the police. It’s like spousal abuse – they think it’s going to come to an end,” Pettit said.
Pettit said Hammond will deal with physical, emotional and financial abuse of the elderly, as well as dealing with commercial operations that may take advantage of the elderly through deceptive sales techniques or shoddy work. Pettit said the issue of home invasions and other crimes against the elderly will also be addressed. He cited the recent case in Peters Township where an elderly woman died after being tied up during a home invasion that could end up being a capital murder case if the suspects are caught.
Pettit said Hammond will also work closely with the Area Agency on Aging Protective Services program.
“We don’t want to overlap what they are doing, but to add to it,” Pettit said.
Marie Christianis, the supervisor for Protective Services for Older Adults in Washington, Greene and Fayette counties, said the creation of the advocate program is definitely a step in the right direction.
“Elder abuse is a growing problem and cooperation between protective services and law enforcement is vital to the safety of our elderly residents,” Christianis said. “Sometimes what we investigate in protective services does rise to the level of crime.”
Christianis said there were 121 reported cases of elder abuse in Fayette, Greene and Washington counties in January. Her office is currently in the process of setting up a training seminar for police officers, lawyers and judges on the prosecution of elder abuse cases. One of the speakers will be from Bucks County where there is a strong elder abuse advocacy program.
Hammond, who spent his career teaching mostly seventh-grade and eighth-grade students, said his new position will be a challenge he is looking forward to.
“It’s going to be a big turn around for me. I have the time and the willingness to learn. I never shy away from a conversation,” Hammond said.
“It’s one more aspect of the broad spectrum of services that we offer,” said Betsy Dane of the Crime Victims Services office. “We treat victims with dignity, compassion and respect.”