It is the mission of the El Paso Police Department’s Special Victims Unit to protect and provide services to senior and disabled citizens. The unit is committed to identifying and seeking prosecution of caretakers who prey on senior and disabled citizens.

Investigation Criteria

The Special Victims Unit is housed at and supported by the Financial Crimes Section.   The unit has been established to address incidents of abuse, neglect or exploitation (as defined by the Texas Human Resource Code, Chapter 48) by caretakers (as defined by the Texas Administrative Code Title 40) of the following individuals:

• Any person 65 years or older;


• Any disabled person 18 years old or older (disability as defined by the Texas


• Human Resource Code, Chapter 48)

PC. 22.01 Assault
PC. 22.04 Injury to Elderly or Disabled Individual
PC. 22.07 Terroristic Threats
PC. 22.08 Aiding Suicide
PC. 31.03 Theft Over $50.00 & Under $19,999.00
PC. 32.31 Credit/Debit Card Abuse
PC. 32.51 Misapplication of Fiduciary Property Over $50.00 & Under $19,999.00
PC. 32.51 Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information
PC. 42.07 Harassment
PC. 42.072 Stalking
PC. 25.10 Interfering with Guardianship
Human Resource Code, Title 2. Section 48.051

Abuse:	the neglect or willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or cruel punishment with resulting physical or emotional harm or pain to an elderly or disabled person by the person’s caretaker, family member or individual who has an ongoing relationship with the person;
Neglect:	means the failure to provide for one’s self the goods or services, including medical services, which are necessary to avoid physical or emotional harm or pain or the failure of a caretaker to provide such goods or services;
Exploitation:	means the illegal or improper act or process of a caretaker, family member, or other individual who has an ongoing relationship with the elderly of disabled person using the resources of an elderly or disabled person for monetary or personal benefit, profit or gain without the informed consent of the elderly or disabled person:
Caretaker:	a guardian, representative payee, or other person who by act, words of course of conduct has acted so as to case a reasonable person to conclude that he has accepted the responsibility for protection, food, shelter or care for an elderly person or an adult with a disability)
Disabled:	Mental or developmental disability that substantially impairs the person’s ability to care for themselves)

Goals

• Educate the elderly and families of the elderly and disabled through media, neighborhood, web page and public presentations.
  
• Educate businesses, financial institutions such as banks and credit unions in assessing red flags of the elderly being scammed.
  
• Educating our emergency response units, law enforcement and social agencies in recognizing red flag symptoms of abuse, neglect and financial injury to our elderly and disabled.
  
• Police Detectives and supervisors will coordinate with APS investigators, Department of Aging and Disabilities, Mental Health and Mental retardation, County Probate Court, as well as the County and District attorneys to bring the abusers of justice and deter this type of crime.

Contributing Factors to Under reporting
One of the obstacles in determining an accurate number of elder abuse victims is the fact that elder abuse is rarely reported. Estimates show that only 1 in 14 incidents of elder abuse are reported to authorities. The reasons why this abuse is rarely reported include:

Fear
Fear of retaliation by the abuser
Fear of not being believed
Fear of being institutionalized, or separated from family and familiar things
Fear of the criminal justice system
Fear of loneliness


Protect the Abuser
Adult children and caregivers are often the abusers, and because of the guilt and shame in being abused by one’s own child or by a trusted caregiver, the abuse is not reported.

Social Isolation
An isolated older victim may not know how or where to seek help. Elders often live alone, or with family members and don’t interact with others in the community.

Self-Blame/Denial
Many victims do not seek help because they either blame themselves for the abuse, or they tolerate and accept the abuse.

Inability to Report
Mental impairments: Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia may cause memory loss and impair the ability to communicate effectively. Physical impairments may affect the victim's ability to get to the phone or leave the home to report abuse, or a stroke may affect their ability to communicate.


Types of Elder Abuse & the Warning Signs

Physical Abuse: the infliction of physical pain or injury, and/or use of physical restraints that result in physical pain or impairment

Warning signs: bruises, welts, lacerations, fractures, burns, hair missing from being pulled, abrasions from physical confinement, over- or under- medicated, unexpected deterioration of health; victim is agitated or fearful, caregiver refuses to let elder have visitors.

Sexual Abuse: non-consensual sexual contact of any kind with an elderly person

Warning signs: unexplained genital infections or sexually transmitted diseases, torn or bloody underclothes, difficulty walking or sitting; victim is withdrawn, fears touching, shameful, anxious.

Psychological/Emotional Abuse: infliction of mental pain, anguish, distress through verbal or nonverbal acts

Warning signs: fearful, eating disorders, self-medication with alcohol or prescription medications, depression, agitation, withdrawn, anger, low self-esteem.

Financial Abuse/Exploitation: illegal or improper use of funds, property, or assets.

Warning signs: unexplained or sudden inability to pay bills, unexplained or sudden withdrawal of money from accounts, disparity between assets and living conditions, unusual interest by family member in an elder's assets, changes in the elder's will/other documents, improper use of guardianship, conservatorship, or power of attorney.

Neglect: failure or refusal to fulfill any part of a person’s obligations or duties to an elderly person

Warning signs: bed sores, dehydration, malnutrition, poor hygiene, unsanitary/unsafe living conditions, improper use of medication; victim appears detached, unresponsive, helpless.

A warning sign of every type of abuse is when the elder reports being abused.

Characteristics of Victims
Majority are 75+ years of age
Two-thirds are female
Have one or more physical or mental impairments
Often widowed or divorced and socially isolated
Usually live with the abuser

Characteristics of Abusers
90% of abusers are known to the victim
More than two-thirds are relatives of the victim
May be socially isolated, possibly substance abusers or persons with poor employment records
May be forced to provide care, and are unprepared for the responsibility and related stress
May be financially or emotionally dependent on the elder


Examples of cases that the El Paso Police Department Special Victims Unit will handle.

A gentleman reported that his father passed away in a privately run home recently. The family's doctor advised that the individual passed away from malnutrition. The gentleman reported that he and his sisters reside out of town, and are concerned about his father’s cause of death. He filed a police report with us. The gentlemen added that his father’s caretaker, a lady had used his father’s credit card and charged numerous food items on the card. These food items included those that the deceased could not have consumed due his condition of using a tube for feeding.

Second Example

A caretaker used a 79-year-old man’s credit card without permission and charged about $30,000 of unauthorized purchases. This case was reported by a social agency for the aging.

Third Example

Scams. Such as those caused by individuals who await the arrival of elderly persons at a financial institution, and abuse the good nature of the elderly willing to help persons who appear to be in distress. These criminals are masking their criminal intent to commit theft by their presenting their elderly victims with forged checks.

If we can be of any assistance in regards to this Unit, do not hesitate to contact at 564-7130.

Det. Ramon Torres TorresRD@elpasotexas.gov
Det. P.A. Natera   NateraPA@elpasotexas.gov
Sgt. Rosie Cubillos CubillosR@elpasotexas.gov



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