Police Unit on Elder Abuse Is Praised but Not Expanded

Members of the Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday praised efforts of a two-man police unit that investigates financial abuse of elderly people but took no action to expand the program despite evidence the problem is growing dramatically.

“The results of your work seem incredible,” said Commissioner Art Mattox of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Elder Person’s Estate Unit. “Over seven years, $31 million in recovered assets.”

The detective team investigates cases in which the entire estate of an older person or a dependent adult is at risk.

A Police Department report submitted to the commission said that since 1987, when the unit was created, reports of such abuse have risen from an average of five to 10 calls a day to 35 calls a day.

“It’s just been growing,” Detective Chayo Reyes told the commissioners. “It’s been hell trying to keep on top of these things . . . The only reason we’ve been able to make it is because we network with other agencies.”

The report does not specify a dollar amount needed or a specific number of detectives, but when questioned Reyes, who heads the unit, told the commission, “We need more detectives.”

Police Chief Willie Williams said the shortage of police was not limited to the unit.

“Just about every detective area in the city is significantly understaffed,” Williams said. “ . . . We can try to make some strategic decisions that won’t hurt one side,” while helping another.”

The problem is exacerbated by shortages in the district attorney’s office, which has only two attorneys assigned to elder abuse cases reported from 48 agencies throughout Los Angeles County, Reyes said.

“Am I correct in assuming that they’re unable to take some of the cases you currently have?” asked Commissioner Herbert F. Boeckmann II.

“Yes, sir,” Reyes said. “We’re standing in line.”

The county’s fiscal problems complicate the problem further. The elder abuse unit in the district attorney’s office is scheduled to be eliminated if the current budget crisis is not resolved, Reyes said.