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ID program helps parents, police find missing kids
By DANIEL PRAZER
Gazette Staff Writer
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What began as a piece of equipment to grant concealed weapon licenses is now helping find missing children.
The Ross County Sheriff's Office rolled out a program called KidPrint ID that gives parents an identification card containing a recent photo, physical description and thumb print.
"This is just another tool that we could use to protect our children," Sheriff Ron Nichols said.
The ID card can be created in minutes using a digital camera, laptop computer and portable card printer -- the same printer used to create licenses to carry a concealed handgun. The parents then keep the card and can turn it over to authorities should their child go missing.
"It's something they can have in their wallet," Lt. Matt Large said. "It's not just something that stays in the home."
In its first day of use, KidPrint ID may have saved a child, Large said. A 4-year-old girl was reported missing Monday afternoon, but she had a KidPrint ID issued earlier in the day.
Thanks to the information being stored in a sheriff's computer database, it was able to be accessed immediately.
"We printed a copy of the card and were able to have a picture and description ... within five minutes," he said.
Deputies found the girl shortly after her card was reprinted.Circleville resident Valorie Huffman waited in line to get ID cards for her children, 13-year-old Austin and 10-year-old Michaella. She said having them made her feel safer, and having a recent photo on hand gave her some peace of mind.
"I am very self-conscious about people taking them, especially in today's world," she said.
Nichols said there were a few kids reported missing each day so far at this year's fair, but they were all recovered quickly. He said parents generally get distracted by friends and turn their backs on the children.
"We're very fortunate here at the county fair," he said. "We generally find the kid within 15, 20 minutes. Usually, the kids aren't lost. The parents are lost."
While it has allowed for a good number of children to be documented, Nichols said the possibilities are much greater. Since it's a portable system, it can go to the kids instead of the other way around.
"We're actually a little surprised at the reception we've gotten," Large said.
"The way it's been received, we've had interest of possibly going into the schools and doing it at the schools."
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Here's the commentary from OFCC:
Concealed-carry opponents have complained about the initial expense of this equipment, which was a one-time cost of about $8000.
Now, sheriffs have found two ways to use the machine to help save lives.
1) Arm the parents who can protect their children.
2) Provide the option for parents to obtain an digital ID.
By DANIEL PRAZER
Gazette Staff Writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What began as a piece of equipment to grant concealed weapon licenses is now helping find missing children.
The Ross County Sheriff's Office rolled out a program called KidPrint ID that gives parents an identification card containing a recent photo, physical description and thumb print.
"This is just another tool that we could use to protect our children," Sheriff Ron Nichols said.
The ID card can be created in minutes using a digital camera, laptop computer and portable card printer -- the same printer used to create licenses to carry a concealed handgun. The parents then keep the card and can turn it over to authorities should their child go missing.
"It's something they can have in their wallet," Lt. Matt Large said. "It's not just something that stays in the home."
In its first day of use, KidPrint ID may have saved a child, Large said. A 4-year-old girl was reported missing Monday afternoon, but she had a KidPrint ID issued earlier in the day.
Thanks to the information being stored in a sheriff's computer database, it was able to be accessed immediately.
"We printed a copy of the card and were able to have a picture and description ... within five minutes," he said.
Deputies found the girl shortly after her card was reprinted.Circleville resident Valorie Huffman waited in line to get ID cards for her children, 13-year-old Austin and 10-year-old Michaella. She said having them made her feel safer, and having a recent photo on hand gave her some peace of mind.
"I am very self-conscious about people taking them, especially in today's world," she said.
Nichols said there were a few kids reported missing each day so far at this year's fair, but they were all recovered quickly. He said parents generally get distracted by friends and turn their backs on the children.
"We're very fortunate here at the county fair," he said. "We generally find the kid within 15, 20 minutes. Usually, the kids aren't lost. The parents are lost."
While it has allowed for a good number of children to be documented, Nichols said the possibilities are much greater. Since it's a portable system, it can go to the kids instead of the other way around.
"We're actually a little surprised at the reception we've gotten," Large said.
"The way it's been received, we've had interest of possibly going into the schools and doing it at the schools."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's the commentary from OFCC:
Concealed-carry opponents have complained about the initial expense of this equipment, which was a one-time cost of about $8000.
Now, sheriffs have found two ways to use the machine to help save lives.
1) Arm the parents who can protect their children.
2) Provide the option for parents to obtain an digital ID.
