Palos Park Police and Public Safety Commissioner Dan Polk | Palos Park
Palos Park Police and Public Safety Commissioner Dan Polk | Palos Park
Palos Park Police and Public Safety Commissioner Dan Polk spoke at the June 12 Palos Park Village Council meeting about preventing scams against the elderly.
"So I want to announce that we have another project that we're working on in town called, 'Stop It' which stands for Scams Targeting Older People."
Polk said this initiative seeks to raise awareness among community members about the various scams targeting the elderly.
"Through awareness, we can intercept thieves. Our offenders typically target our vulnerable, elderly residents. Unfortunately, many of these residents feel embarrassed for falling victim to the scams," Polk said.
He urged residents not to hesitate to contact the police.
"So please, the first thing we would ask is if you've been approached and you feel like something isn't right, first of all, you can always, always, always, always call us and we'd be happy to check people out for you," Polk said. "You're not going to miss the deal of the month by waiting an extra 10 minutes to talk to the police Park Police Department."
He also reminded residents that it doesn't have to be an emergency to call 911.
"The second thing I want to remind you of, is people say, 'well, how should I call?' Well, there's these three magic numbers on your phone, and even though your mother taught you that you could only call when the house was burning down or Uncle Joe was being threatened by a crowbar in the driveway, call 911," Polk said. "The 911 operators don't mind. we certainly don't mind, and it's the quickest way to get our attention."
Polk said by calling the police department directly, individuals can request verification and assistance, ensuring their safety and preventing potential scams.
"If there's ever anything – you get someone that comes up to the house, they say they have to do an inspection or they notice that X, Y or Z, you've got a shingle missing on the roof, or your downspouts become disconnected, please, please, please, just give us a call and we'd be happy to check these people out," Polk said.
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