DEPUTY LAESCH HONORED WITH 2017 ELDER JUSTICE GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD

ST. JOSEPH – Berrien County Sheriff’s Department Crime Prevention Coordinator Kelly Laesch was honored recently with a statewide award in recognition of her efforts on behalf of county residents.
Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey announced that Laesch received the 2017 Elder Justice Good Neighbor Award June 21st during a ceremony in Mount Pleasant. He said Laesch was nominated for the award by the Berrien and Cass County Departments of Health and Human Services for all her efforts going above and beyond her job requirements.
“She often assists Adult Protective Services on cases and will drop everything else in front of her to do so,” Bailey said. “She helps them when the need for their own safety applies as well as providing information involving the best options for the APS clients.”
He also praised Laesch for her ability to communicate with vulnerable adults. “She has developed a special way of communicating with vulnerable adults that helps them understand what is necessary to keep them safe,” he said.
Laesch continues to be in charge of the Project Lifesaver Program in Berrien County. In addition, she acts as the Law Enforcement Liaison for the local TRIAD group besides all her other job responsibilities.
Laesch is a Buchanan native and has been a member of the sheriff’s department for 17 years. She began her career working in the jail and then went out on road patrol for a number of years before working in narcotics for two years and then taking her current crime prevention position seven years ago.
In her role as the sheriff’s department’s crime prevention officer, she regularly makes presentations to community groups on a variety of crime prevention topics including identity theft, home security, women’s personal safety, Do Not Call lists and scams.
“My programs are a free resource for the community,” she said in an interview last fall. “We have great services out there to help people. Right now, I’m about two months out for doing programs. I’m swamped.”
Her schedule isn’t necessarily one that is nine to five Monday through Friday. She makes evening and weekend presentations to churches, neighborhood watch groups and other local organizations. She also gives programs at senior citizen centers on a regular basis and makes sure she gets regular training so she has the most up to date information to share.
In addition to going out in the community to meet with individuals and groups, she is a big believer in using today’s technology. She posts information regularly on social media and sends out press releases to get the word out about what’s going on.
Besides her work and her family, Laesch makes time to serve on the Buchanan Board of Education and support her local community of Buchanan in any way she can.