Law enforcement officials in Vicksburg and Warren County deserve our thanks this week after quickly capturing two suspects in the horrific attack of a 72-year-old Vicksburg woman.

Within three days of the home invasion and rape on Mundy Street, two men were in jail charged in connection with the crime. That’s an amazing feat considering the victim was only able to describe her attackers as two black men.

“The investigators worked endless hours in solving this case. They did an outstanding job,” Vicksburg police Capt. Sandra Williams, the leader of the investigations division told me Tuesday morning before the arrest were announced a press conference.

The swift arrest, and what will ultimately happen to the two suspects if they are found guilty should send a message that this type of crime will not be tolerated in our community.

Anyone who commits a crime against an elderly victim faces double the time in prison because of sentencing enhancements, District Attorney Ricky Smith said.

“We want to make sure in this case that we take the time to show the individuals in our community who are thinking of committing this kind of crime that if you do commit this type of crime you will be arrested,” Smith said. “You will be prosecuted and you will spend the majority if not the rest of your life in prison.”

A lifetime of prison is awful, but how fellow prisoners treat rapists and child abusers is the stuff of nightmares.

The most disturbing detail of the crime is that the two suspects in the case did not know their elderly victim. That can be especially alarming for elderly women who live alone.

But don’t worry; there’s already an awesome support in place for our community’s senior adults.

What a lot of people in Vicksburg and Warren County don’t realize is that law enforcement and fire officials have a very strong connection with senior adults through a monthly program called Triad.

Triad meets at 2 p.m. the last Wednesday of each month in the annex south of City Hall on Walnut Street. The program, which is chaired by former Mayor Joe Loviza, puts seniors face to face with law enforcement and fire personnel.  This is the perfect opportunity to meet the men and women who protect this city and county and raise any concerns seniors might have. There is also a speaker at each meeting to address topics related to emergency services, health care or the criminal justice system and how it relates to seniors.

This month’s speaker was County Court Judge Johnny Price.

It’s already passed for this month, but Triad is a great opportunity to get involved. Don’t let it pass you by.