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Senior Police Academy teaches seniors safety

Older residents can be particularly susceptible to fraud and scams.
Head of the Knox County TRIAD program Doug Sampson says that’s just one of the aspects the Senior Police Academy is aiming to teach seniors about.

“We’re trying to educate seniors to keep them ahead of the game on these scammers that are always trying to get money from everybody and we try to teach them  so they can teach their friends at the same time.”

In eight weeks of sessions a new topic will be covered every Monday including how to divert scammers, crime scene tech and a K-9 unit demonstration.

The first session will be an overview of the new 911 operating system with Galesburg’s Dispatch Supervisor, Vicki Miller.

This session is designed to familiarize seniors with the system so they won’t be afraid to call when they need to.

Sampson sees the classes as not only containing vital information but a terrific social activity.

“In the winter there’s not a lot of things for seniors to do,” Sampson says. “They’re kind of stuck at home and we try to give them an opportunity to get out and meet new people and get educated and it’s free to them.”

The Senior Police Academy program has now been offered for six years and is free to all residents over 55 years old.

The first class is Jan. 25 and goes through Mar. 14 at 9 a.m. at the Public Safety Building

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