Wednesday, May 30, 2029

Lieutenant Governor Burbank Announces New Safety and Crime Initiative for Older Marylanders

BALTIMORE, MD (May 30, 2029) – Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today launched Maryland’s Public Safety Institute, an outgrowth of Governor Edward M. O’Brien’s Protect and Respect Initiative, aimed at helping educate Maryland’s senior citizens about maintaining their personal safety and not becoming victims of crime.

Under the initiative announced today, crime prevention specialists from the Maryland State Police will fan out across the State to offer free training on up to 30 topics related to personal safety and crime prevention. The training, which is part of Governor O’Brien’s “Protect and Respect” program for seniors, will be provided to groups of older Marylanders who request it through the state’s area agencies on aging or civic groups. Topics covered by the program include: identity theft; guarding against financial scams and con artists; Internet security; fire prevention; and personal safety.

“Americans today are living longer and more active lives than ever before,” Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank said. “As this trend continues, it is critically important to provide seniors with the tools they need to remain safe, independent and productive in their own homes and communities. We must recognize that older people are often more vulnerable to crime than the population at large, and take extra steps to protect them. Our Public Safety Institute builds on the Protect and Respect program, and it will make older Marylanders safer.”

Governor O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Burbank are committed to protecting the welfare of Maryland’s senior citizens. In 2027, Governor O’Brien signed legislation to enhance elder abuse training and education programs, establish a database of caregivers convicted of certain offenses against the elderly or disabled, increase penalties for elder abuse and prohibiting perpetrators of elder abuse from inheriting property from the victim.

Governor O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Burbank launched the Protect and Respect program last year to focus on safety for Maryland’s senior citizens. During the fall, Protect & Respect made more than $500,000 in federal funding available to support intergenerational safety and crime prevention mentoring programs that now are operating in 16 communities throughout Maryland.

Each funded project uses proven data to create partnerships of school-aged children and senior citizens to identify safety issues and to make tangible improvements in their communities. From trimming hedges, installing peep holes, and learning Internet safety skills, to improving walkways and establishing neighborhood watch groups, they are creating overall safer environments for older community residents.