Law enforcement plays a key role in elder abuse prevention. Whether it is our own parents, grandparents, or friends, we are all aging, and we all want to age in a just society that ensures our safety and dignity.

That is where you, as law enforcement, are needed. As first responders, you may already be familiar with cases concerning elder abuse. Cases may involve physical, financial, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect. These cases are complex and multilayered. To alleviate the pressure and stress that comes with the uniform, the Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement, EAGLE, provides you with everything you need for approaching elder abuse cases.

EAGLE is a free online tool that is designed to provide users with easy-to-access information regarding the following:

• Elder Abuse 101: Explore the different types of elder abuse and familiarize yourself with the signs of abuse and actions you can take.
• State Specific Laws: Get instant access to your state's penal codes on elder abuse.
• Community Resource Referrals: Type in a zip code to provide local information on resources for older adults, their families, and caregivers.
• Law Enforcement Resources: A hub for supplementary resources that can help with bruising identification, working with others to build a case, and interviewing older adults.

EAGLE was developed and tested by law enforcement across the United States. These tools are a testament to what law enforcement needs to respond effectively to elder abuse cases. Look at these great resources on EAGLE's website.

Call to Action

If you are not already familiar with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), it is a nationally recognized commemorative day to raise awareness of elder abuse prevention. EAGLE needs law enforcement to be involved in WEAAD 2022, and we have several ways for you to participate:

• Connect with an Older Adult: Human contact is the best prevention.
• Host a Safe Collection Site: Host an event for the community to dispose of medications or personal and financial documents safely.
• Wear Purple: The nationally recognized color for WEAAD.
• Walk for WEAAD: Sign up individually or as a department and participate in the national campaign to spread awareness.

EAGLE is also looking for potential WEAAD Warriors. A WEAAD Warrior is an individual or departmental initiative or program that serves the older adults in the local community by actively working to prevent elder abuse. Selected WEAAD Warriors will be shared during EAGLE's WEAAD Warriors campaign and featured in the EAGLE Newsletter.

If you know a potential WEAAD Warrior or would like to highlight your department’s initiative, submit a WEAAD Warrior nomination today.

EAGLE Training Opportunities

Want to know more about EAGLE? There are several options for those seeking department-wide elder abuse prevention training, both in-person and virtually. On the individual level, officers can take the one-hour online EAGLE-based training on elder abuse through the National White Collar Crimes Center (NW3C). Print the ‘Certificate of Completion’ and request certification through your POST office.

Current WEAAD Warriors, 2022

COPS Office Funding Opportunities – Supporting Future WEAAD Warriors

The COPS Office has recently opened the Community Policing Development (CPD) Microgrants Program Solicitation, which includes many topic areas to develop or enhance programs that meet the needs of underserved populations, including older adults. Applications should identify the population(s) that will be the target audience for the project activities and explain how the agency chose that audience. All local, state, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies are eligible to apply, but are encouraged to partner with institutions of higher education, community groups, other criminal justice stakeholders, and the general public on project activities. To learn more, please visit the COPS Office website Community Policing Development (CPD) Microgrants Program Solicitation. The Grants.gov deadline to submit an application for the first step in the process is June 21, 2022, at 7:59 PM ET.

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