Safe child ID program hits the beach Friday

PINE PLAINS — The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office urges parents throughout the Harlem Valley to bring their children to the Pine Plains beach this Friday, Aug. 17.

“We can do IDs from ages newborn up to older kids,� said Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Deputy TJ Hanlon. “Most of the times the parents are looking at bringing elementary-age kids.�

The process is simple. Parents bring their children and fill out a form. Then a representative from the sheriff’s office takes a picture of that child. Next the deputies get electronic fingerprints of the child.

“Then they are given a picture ID that very same day, usually within 10 minutes or so,� Hanlon said. “Parents have a choice of it being stored on a state database that is secure, so if they don’t happen to have the card handy we can access that information.�

Whether parents choose to store the data with the state or not, the information is kept confidential. The sheriff’s office also stressed that the information is not kept for criminal justice purposes.

The ID program this Friday is part of Operation Safe Child, which started in June 2005. Pine Plains recreation is providing the service in conjunction with the sheriff’s office through that program.

In 2006 Dutchess County had a total of 295 cases of missing children reported. Hanlon said parents who protect their children with photo ID cards have one more tool that aids in the search for their child if the worst should happen.

“It’s important because it provides peace of mind knowing they have an up-to-date picture with all of the necessary information for a missing persons report,� he said.

The result of the program is a credit card sized plastic ID card that reads “New York Safe Child ID,� with a picture and information on the front of the card and an image of fingerprints on the back of the card. The card is in full color.

To get a safe child ID card this Friday, stop by the sheriff’s booth at the Pine Plains beach at Stissing Lake from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Shaw Israel Izikson contributed to this report.

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