Marin County on Tuesday recognized the District Attorney’s Office as department of the quarter and heard a briefing on consumer protection and outreach programs the office says aim to curb scams and support victims.

District Attorney Laurie Fergoli told the Board of Supervisors her office reviews about 6,000 to 7,000 police reports each year and that the office sees itself as “the safety net for victims and witnesses of crimes.” She described the office’s reorganized leadership and its in‑house units, including criminal divisions, victim witness advocates and a consumer protection unit.

Michael Ware, who runs the consumer protection unit, said many of the unit’s investigations begin with complaints from the community and that the office handles both consumer enforcement and environmental enforcement. “We do consumer protection enforcement actions, as well as environmental enforcement actions,” Ware said.

To address a recent increase in scams aimed at seniors, Ware described a bank pilot being tested with two banks and the San Rafael Police Department. Bank tellers, he said, would be trained to hand a scripted card to customers who are attempting suspicious large cash withdrawals; the card includes a phone number customers are encouraged to call so dispatchers can advise them that the transaction may be a scam. Ware said the program is intended to give bank staff a nonconfrontational, credible option when a customer insists the withdrawal is legitimate.

The DA’s office also described its mediation unit, which offers free mediation countywide and supports the county’s programs that address rent increases above local thresholds. Fergoli noted other office priorities including gun‑safety outreach, restorative and collaborative courts, and a veterans court she helps run.

Public commenters and supervisors applauded the office’s outreach and the new bank‑teller pilot. The board requested follow‑up materials and expressed support for continuing programs that assist seniors and victims.