A volunteer until he 'dries up'

As an undercover cop in the 1970s, Ken Sorensen infiltrated an apartment complex occupied by members of the Symbionese Liberation Army, kidnappers of Patricia Hearst, in Menlo Park, Calif.

"They were very well-educated," he said. The group hid evidence of its occupation of the building as members forced other residents out, he said.

Sorensen never met Hearst, the heiress to the Hearst family fortune who was kidnapped in 1974, but he spent a few months investigating the group.

"If they found out you were a cop, you were gone," Sorensen said. He wore his hair long and had a beard during his months inside the cult.

The case was a memorable one during his 31 years as an officer with the Menlo Park Police Department. He recalled another case he helped solve that involved the beating of an elderly couple by a housekeeper, who was bilking them out of money, a case for which he received an award from the community.

Though Sorensen, 64, is now retired, he hasn't stopped working to help people, especially seniors. Three years ago, he saw a television ad about a new Medicare fraud-detection program offered through the state Attorney General's Office, Sorensen signed up as a volunteer.

He spends many hours each month giving talks to senior and community groups on how to identify Medicare fraud through medical bills and to prevent scams. He is also the liaison for the program in Northern Nevada and handles complaints.

The Senior Nevada Advocates on Guard project Sorensen volunteers for was honored last week by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare in Washington, D.C.

One of 51 projects nationwide, the program works to combat and prevent error, waste, fraud and abuse of Medicare and Medicaid. Sorensen estimates Nevada has tallied $123 million in Medicare fraud.

"We try to inform (seniors) as to what to look for so they don't get ripped off," he said. In general, he said, he feels seniors are not well cared for by the government. He has heard from many who "don't know if they should eat or take their medication.

"These are sensible people," he said. "And they have to make a decision -- food or drugs."

Sorensen's home office is filled with plaques and awards from his law enforcement career and volunteer work. He was flown to Washington, D.C., last year to be honored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which recognized 13 volunteers from 13 different states for their work with the program.

He recently started the Carson City Sheriff's Department Citizens Academy and plans to volunteer with that department.

Sorensen intends to volunteer "'til I dry up."

Sorensen, who lives with his wife, Donna, has six children and six grandchildren. The couple belongs to the Carson City Host Lions Club.