June 29th, 2022 – 1:45 PM
Floyd County Police Department –
The safety and welfare of our vulnerable populations depend on our community speaking out when
there is evidence or suspicion of potential harm.
Persons in critical need of help will often stay out of sight and hidden under a cloud of embarrassment
or fear, but not all cases that are reported to authorities will require criminal action. In some instances,
there is significant poverty or a lack of awareness about resources that can help families.
In one case the Floyd County Police Department received information from a doctor’s office based on
questions that were asked during a routine doctor’s visit. Investigators worked with the Victim Witness
Office from the District Attorney’s Office to secure housing and medical equipment to help the elderly
patient live a more comfortable life.
Miriam Little, a social worker with Harbin Medical Oncology at Floyd Medical Center, and Sandy
Kunneman, Director of Victim Witness, were recently awarded the Pat King Award by the Northwest
Georgia Elder Abuse Task Force. Little believed her patient was living in unsafe and unsanitary living
conditions, and because she trusted the opinion of Kunneman the pair worked together to resolve the
patient’s circumstances.
In his letter of recommendation to the Elder Abuse Task Force, Major Jeff Jones wrote: “without a
doubt, the assistance, and care that both Kunneman and Little unselfishly provided to the elderly lady
rescued her from a dangerous environment and improved her wellbeing.”
The Pat King Award was established in honor of a nurse who went beyond normal duties to assist her
community and improve the lives of others. It is awarded to citizens and professionals who act out of
compassion.
In that same award ceremony, the task force recognized Assistant District Attorney Natalee Staats for
her work in assisting a 75-year-old woman who had been scammed out of $60,000 in wire fraud. She
had been contacted by a judge friend from another circuit about the case and she contacted local police
to resolve the matter and return money to the elderly victim.
Others who were recognized for that same case during an earlier ceremony: including FCPD
Investigator Amber Lopez, Judge J. Edward Hilary of Haralson County, and Brandon Trapp, a bank
teller from Synovus Bank.
The most recent awards were presented during a banquet hosted at the Rome Braves.