| Columbia County Sheriff's Office |
David W. Harrison, Jr., SHERIFF James R. Sweet, UNDERSHERIFF
| Copyright ©2006 Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Hudson, NY 12534 |
Operation Safe Child 1st Saturday of Every Month
January 28, 2008
GREENPORT, NY - Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. announces that his office, along with the office of Columbia
County District Attorney Beth Cozzolino, will be offering the Operation SAFE CHILD Program on a regular basis at
the Public Safety Facility. Both agencies were awarded a grant in 2007 after joining efforts to ensure that parents
have updated information about their children readily accessible at any time. Operation SAFE CHILD is a program
created in 2005 to raise awareness about child safety. It was developed by several agencies within New York State
including the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and the New York State Sheriff’s Association.
Using the latest digital fingerprinting technology and high-resolution photography capabilities, a SAFE CHILD
informational ID card is made of the child for parents and guardians to have with them in the event the child’s
information and photo are needed quickly for an emergency situation.
The card contains the child’s name, pedigree information, (i.e. date of birth, height, weight, hair and eye color etc.),
photograph and images of two fingers. Produced within minutes, the card can be carried in a parent’s wallet or
pocketbook for easy accessibility. If a parent wishes, they may opt to store the information with the Division of
Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) in the event their child becomes lost or missing. The storage of this information is
strictly voluntary and would require the written consent of a parent or guardian for the data to be stored in the DCJS
database in Albany, NY.
If a parent decides to have their child’s information stored with the state agency it would only be used as an
invaluable resource in conjunction with the New York State AMBER Alert and/or Missing Child Alert programs.
These cards will allow essential missing child information to be disseminated more rapidly, dramatically increasing
the possibility of bringing a missing child safely home.
The program will be offered at community events such as community days and the Columbia County Fair.
Additionally, the SAFE CHILD Program will now be made available to parents and guardians who bring their children
to the lobby of the Public Safety Facility on the FIRST (1st) Saturday of each month between the hours of 10:00AM
and 2:00PM. The next Saturday session is February 2, 2008. There is no charge and NO APPOINTMENT IS
NEEDED during this period. Parents should expect the process to take at least fifteen (15) minutes per child.
Additional information about the program and a DCJS program link can be found on the Sheriff’s Office website www.
columbiacountysheriff.us .
Any questions about the program should be directed to Sheriff’s Office Program Manager Lt. Thomas Lanphear at
518-828-3324 x 216.
January 28, 2008
GREENPORT, NY - Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. announces that his office, along with the office of Columbia
County District Attorney Beth Cozzolino, will be offering the Operation SAFE CHILD Program on a regular basis at
the Public Safety Facility. Both agencies were awarded a grant in 2007 after joining efforts to ensure that parents
have updated information about their children readily accessible at any time. Operation SAFE CHILD is a program
created in 2005 to raise awareness about child safety. It was developed by several agencies within New York State
including the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and the New York State Sheriff’s Association.
Using the latest digital fingerprinting technology and high-resolution photography capabilities, a SAFE CHILD
informational ID card is made of the child for parents and guardians to have with them in the event the child’s
information and photo are needed quickly for an emergency situation.
The card contains the child’s name, pedigree information, (i.e. date of birth, height, weight, hair and eye color etc.),
photograph and images of two fingers. Produced within minutes, the card can be carried in a parent’s wallet or
pocketbook for easy accessibility. If a parent wishes, they may opt to store the information with the Division of
Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) in the event their child becomes lost or missing. The storage of this information is
strictly voluntary and would require the written consent of a parent or guardian for the data to be stored in the DCJS
database in Albany, NY.
If a parent decides to have their child’s information stored with the state agency it would only be used as an
invaluable resource in conjunction with the New York State AMBER Alert and/or Missing Child Alert programs.
These cards will allow essential missing child information to be disseminated more rapidly, dramatically increasing
the possibility of bringing a missing child safely home.
The program will be offered at community events such as community days and the Columbia County Fair.
Additionally, the SAFE CHILD Program will now be made available to parents and guardians who bring their children
to the lobby of the Public Safety Facility on the FIRST (1st) Saturday of each month between the hours of 10:00AM
and 2:00PM. The next Saturday session is February 2, 2008. There is no charge and NO APPOINTMENT IS
NEEDED during this period. Parents should expect the process to take at least fifteen (15) minutes per child.
Additional information about the program and a DCJS program link can be found on the Sheriff’s Office website www.
columbiacountysheriff.us .
Any questions about the program should be directed to Sheriff’s Office Program Manager Lt. Thomas Lanphear at
518-828-3324 x 216.