Committee raises concerns about adult protective services response for vulnerable adults

The Harrison County Blue Ribbon Committee discussed repeated complaints about Adult Protective Services (APS) response times and investigative practices and considered outreach to APS, local law enforcement and other community partners to identify remedies.

Committee members and advocacy-center staff described multiple calls reporting suspected exploitation — including accounts that a senior paraplegic was assaulted and had money and food taken — and said APS often responded that the person was "in a safe place," which committee members said prevented further action on financial exploitation or bank account changes. Members said the absence of an effective response left hospital and advocacy staff without a local avenue to secure long-term protections for vulnerable adults.

Participants suggested inviting APS and the local police department (mentioned in the meeting as SMPD/SMPDD and a local ombudsman) to attend a future committee meeting to explain procedures, share what the agencies see in the community, and identify alternative avenues for advocacy. Committee members also discussed gathering documented examples and preparing a succinct packet for an upcoming planned meeting with the governor (the committee referenced an August 15 follow-up), saying they want to present prioritized issues and concrete examples that show systemic problems.

No formal action was taken at the meeting, but members asked staff to reach out to APS and local law enforcement to invite them to a future session and to compile case documentation for the governor briefing.