Plymouth Mayor Gary Cook, pictured with wife Cheryl, will be working as an investigator with Adult Protective Services beginning Jan. 2, 2008. File photo

By Carol Anders Staff Writer
PLYMOUTH — Plymouth Mayor Gary Cook said he would be looking for a new career when his term ends at the end of December.
It appears that he has done just that, but will continue to serve the public as he has done for most of his adult life.
Cook will start as an investigator with Adult Protective Services (APS) beginning Jan. 2, 2008. His position is under the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office of Michael Dvorak.
Cook said he knows Dvorak very well. He roomed with him 11 of the 12 years that they both were in the Indiana state legislature.
“I’m looking forward to starting with APS. The satisfying part is being able to help someone,” Cook said.
He said as an investigator, he can help protect people.
“In many cases, they (elderly) need someone to speak for them.”
APS was established throughout Indiana in 1985 to investigate reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation of endangered adults. APS is under the umbrella of the Family and Social Services Administration. They provide  investigators for each of 15 units around the state.
According to information provided by the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s office, there are approximately 700,000 people in the state of Indiana age 65 and older.
Data shows that 40,000 cases of elder abuse and neglect occur in Indiana each year. Sadly enough, they also estimate that only 1 in 14 cases are reported.
Cook will be covering the four counties of Marshall, St. Joseph, Elkhart and Kosciusko.
In addition to serving in the Indiana House of Represent-atives from 1990-2002, Cook was in law enforcement in Plymouth and Argos. His service to the Plymouth Police Department was from 1975-1995 and he was with the Argos Department from 1998-2003. He began his four-year term as mayor in 2004.
Cook said he is proud of the work that has been done during his administration in the area of code enforcement. He also cited the advancements made towards the certification of a technology park, the purchase of the Glaub property that can eventually be used as a downtown park and the plans for the South Gateway project as positive moves for Plymouth.
Cook said, “It has been an honor and privilege to serve the people the last four years. I hope Plymouth continues to prosper.”