Gasp gathers steam in first year
By Kathleen Folkerth
WEST AKRON — In just a little more than a year, Fran Doll has helped get 80 local people trained to help law enforcement in case of a child’s abduction.
Doll, 66, who just moved from Bath to Fairlawn, is the founder of Grandparents Against Sex Predators (GASP), a nonprofit organization she formed in 2006.
In a recent presentation to The Women’s Network during a luncheon at the Akron Woman’s City Club, Doll shared some statistics that she said surprised her.
“I was shocked to learn that we have well over 800 registered sex offenders in Summit County,” Doll said. She noted that it’s estimated that 90 percent of sex offenders are never caught and registered. “It’s very frightening.”
Doll, who founded the temporary-help firm Superior Staffing, said her life changed a few years ago when she found out she had cancer.
“It made me focus on something
besides business,” she
said.
It was about 18 months ago that
Doll was in Florida on vacation when she saw an article
marking the year that had passed since Jessica Lunsford
had been abducted from her grandmother’s home
and was later found dead at a neighbor’s house.
Doll said she felt she had a calling to do something
about cases like this.
“There’s got to be
some way we can help,” she said she thought.
After forming the group in April
2006, Doll began working with the Summit County Sheriff’s
Office. The group has now hosted two training sessions
at which the 80 volunteers have been trained in how
to assist the department should an abduction occur.
“We want to be the extra
eyes and ears, but do it in a way they need us to do
it,” Doll said.
Christine Croce, who oversees
the sheriff’s sex offender unit, said when an
abduction or major crime happens, law enforcement agencies
can sometimes be overwhelmed.
“We have to do our jobs
on a daily basis,” she said, noting that officers
must still be on patrol and the jails must be staffed.
“All of these places are expected to keep running.
Having an extra 80 pairs of eyes and ears is like having
a whole other shift of deputies available.”
Croce said abductions aren’t
common, so one area she has tried to help GASP focus
on is becoming educated about how to prevent abductions
or other crimes by sex predators.
“GASP is a huge help in
getting the word out,” Croce said.
Doll said the group will have
more training opportunities in the future. She added
that she has tried to get grandparents involved, since
they are usually available during the daytime hours,
but she welcomes anyone who is older than 18.
The group also is focusing on
fund-raising. Its first event will be a concert by pianist
Steve Hall Sept. 20 at First Congregational Church of
Akron, 292 E. Market St. Tickets are $15 and are available
in advance by calling (330) 322-4632 or (330) 923-5886.
Doll said GASP volunteers also
are interested in appearing before local groups to talk
about the group’s mission.
For more information about GASP,
call (330) 247-1402 or go to www.gasp123.org.
Fran Doll, founder of Grandparents Against Sex Predators (GASP), is shown in the bottom row at left next to Deborah Graef, a GASP board member, and with (second row) Eve Torocsik, a member of the advisory committee; Flo Haas, administrative assistant; and Dee Genda, head of the speakers bureau. Photo: Kathleen Folkerth
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