TRIAD is one of the fastest-growing crime prevention partnerships in the country. It is a cooperative effort of law enforcement agencies (police/fire/sheriffs), senior citizens, and senior organizations, focused on reducing crimes against our most vulnerable citizens: our seniors. In 1988, the American Association of Retired Persons, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Sheriff’s Association realized that the baby boomers would soon be retiring and would be in need of protection from con artists and other criminals who would seek to separate them from their hard-earned savings. These three groups formed the first TRIAD in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, bringing together seniors and law enforcement in a cooperative effort to fight crime. The TRIAD concept has since spread to 47 states, Canada, and England – and it arrived in Virginia in 1995.
The goal of TRIAD is to reduce the fear of crime and victimization among seniors by increasing awareness of scams and frauds targeting them, strengthening communication between the law enforcement and senior communities, and educating seniors on local and state resources that are available in their community. This goal is accomplished through speaking engagements, community collaborations, targeted trainings for seniors and law enforcement practitioners, providing a support mechanism to current local TRIAD groups, and marketing the TRIAD concept to non-participating localities. Today, Virginia has a total of 226 cities, counties, and towns with signed TRIAD agreements. Virginia TRIAD has also been recognized by the National Association of TRIADs, Inc. as having the highest number of active local groups nationwide and is the only state in the nation with a statewide coordinated office at the Executive Level of government.
The Virginia Triad Office can provide information and resources to Triad chapters across the Commonwealth. We can also assist you in organizing your Triad, planning ideas and programs for your seniors, and provide training opportunities for law enforcement, senior volunteers, and community groups.