Citizens’ Commission for the Safety and Care of the Elderly
The Citizens’ Commission for the Safety and Care of the Elderly was enacted by the legislature in 1986. RI Citizens’ Commission for the Safety and Care of the Elderly Legislation can be found here.
The purpose of the commission is to be a liaison between the legislature, public safety officials, the office of healthy aging, and the older population of Rhode Island in the area of crime against the elderly, fire safety, and protective service options available to the elderly.
There are 21 members of the commission, 15 are older Rhode Islanders appointed by the Speaker and President of the Senate and the remaining are the president of the Police Chiefs’ Association or his or her designee; the Attorney General or his or her designee; the director of the Office of Healthy Aging or his or her designee; a representative of the state police appointed by the superintendent of the state police, the president of the Fire chief’s association, or his or her designee and the state fire marshal or his or her designee.
Each local police and fire chief designates at least one police officer or fire fighter to serve as the department’s “senior citizen police advocate” to work as a liaison between the department and the elderly community to help address elderly safety and protection issues.