MOUNT VERNON — Local senior advocates met Thursday afternoon to form a council to run the local Triad organization as an independent organization. The group had been facilitated by the Knox County Prosecutor’s Office until Thursday.
“Triad is supposed to be a partnership between seniors and law enforcement,” said Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher at the meeting. “The prosecutor’s office is not really going to be involved and I’m going to step aside until the organization is ready to be up and running.”
According to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office website, “Triad partnerships are designed to help seniors learn of the scams and crimes that target them, increasing their communication with law enforcement and making them aware of community resources.”
The meeting was attended by Dale Gilette, who coordinates the different county Triad groups for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Gilette was at the meeting to advise the group on ways to be more effective from the outset and to help smooth the group’s transition from the prosecutor’s office to being an independent organization.
“You people have succeeded better than down in Ross County,” Gilette told the group. “When we started down there, we had about 10 people. You’ve doubled that here. I am really impressed with the people who are here.
“This is not going to take a lot out of your monthly schedule. I’m going to suggest a minimum of at least once a month meetings.
In order to set up those monthly meetings, Gilette passed down advise on how best to get community seniors involved.
