Parents can receive a disk of their children’s ID information, which includes a digital photograph and fingerprints, on Thursday, May 25, between 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Jamesburg Fire Department.
By: Stephanie Brown
JAMESBURG Child abduction may not be an issue that parents want to think about, but according the Department of Justice, more than 2,000 children are reported missing or abducted each day in the United States.
A report released by the DOJ’s Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency in 2002 stated that 797,5000 kids were reported missing to police or a missing child agency in 1999.
Faced with that harrowing fact, law enforcement officials say its best to be prepared in case of such an emergency.
"You don’t want to think about it, but in today’s world, with all the concerns we have with children and their safety, it’s a good idea to be prepared for the unknown," Jamesburg’s acting Chief of Police Paul Karkoska said Monday.
In an attempt to provide parents with the standardized records that law enforcement officials need in missing children cases, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) is sponsoring the first Family Trusted Digital ID event on Thursday, which is national Missing Children’s Day.
As part of the national effort, parents are invited to bring their children to the Jamesburg Fire Department located at 82 West Railroad Ave. between 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. to receive a free disk containing the child’s photo, fingerprints and personal profile in digital format.
Additionally, FLEOA members will educate parents on useful safeguards that will help them protect their children.
FLEOA member John Walker said some parents had expressed concerns that their child’s information would be used as part of an electronic profile database, such as ones government agencies have for criminals.
However, he said the event is supported by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which encourages parents to keep current records of their children, and is not a means to create a national database. Parents keep the sole copy, and it is only turned over to law enforcement in the event of an emergency, he said.
"Its critical for parents to have a good quality, current photo of their child, NCMEC spokesman David Shapiro said Tuesday. "Since the 20 years that the center has been in existence, I can tell you that the most crucial tool law enforcement will ask for is what does the child look like."
The purpose of the disk is to "allow law enforcement to quickly send profile information electronically to other agencies across the country or wherever we think the child might be," Mr. Walker said.
Technological advancements, like digitized photographs, have contributed to the increased success rate in retrieving missing children from 62 percent before 1990 to 96 percent currently, Mr. Shapiro said.
Many experts believe children face the gravest danger within the first few hours after they are abducted, according to a press release issued by FLEOA.
"Time is the enemy," David Shapiro, NCMEC spokesman said. "Having the proper information on hand is critical. The sooner you’re able to get the photo distributed to a targeted community, the sooner you’ll get leads back."
Parents with children of all ages are encouraged to attend the event. Even parents with infant children will be able to create a profile by using the original ink fingerprint or footprint method. While information won’t be in the electronic format that enables speedy reaction in the event of an emergency, Mr. Walker said it’s still a good idea to collect the necessary information.
"It’s better to have something rather than nothing," Mr. Walker said.
For more information about National Missing Children’s Day and FLEOA, visit www.fleoa.org.

