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The rising awareness of crimes against
children, and of missing children in particular, has left many families feeling
vulnerable. It is important that families be aware and alert, but you and your child
do not have to be afraid. However, you should be wary
of gadgets and gimmicks that purport to protect your child.
The most important key to child safety is effective communication with your child. Remember children who are not listened to or do not have their needs met at home are much more vulnerable to abduction and exploitation. Your first step should be to establish an atmosphere at home in which your child feels truly comfortable in discussing sensitive matters and in relating experiences in which someone may have approached your children in an inappropriate way or a manner that made them feel uncomfortable.
The sad but simple truth is that children are often to afraid or too confused to report their experience and their fears.
Preparation
These are the five steps we recommend every parent take to be prepared if their child is missing. The information you collect will greatly assist law enforcement officials in locating and identifying your child.
1. Keep a complete, accurate and detailed description of each child. This should include hair color, eye color, height, weight, and date of birth. In addition the description should include other identifiers such as eye glasses, or contact lenses, braces on teeth, pierced ears, or any other unique physical attributes. Keep this description written down and stored In a safe place. Update it often.
2. Take color photographs of your child every six months. Try and take the best quality photos you can using the best focus possible. Head and shoulder shots from several different angles such as school portraits are preferable.
3. Have your dentist prepare dental charts of your child and update them each time dental work is performed. If you move or change dentists obtain a copy to give to your new dentist.
4. Know where your child's medical records are. Medical records especially x rays can be invaluable in helping to identify a recovered child. It is important to have all permanent scars, birthmarks, blemishes and broken bones recorded.
5. Arrange with your local police department to have your child fingerprinted. The Monroe Police Department will gladly fingerprint your children at no cost to you. You will be given the fingerprint card to store. No record of your child's fingerprints will be kept on file.
Action
If you believe your child is missing, it is critical that you act immediately. If your child is missing from home, search your house. Check closets, piles of laundry, in and under beds, inside old refrigerators - wherever a child could crawl into or hide and possibly be asleep or not be able to get out. Check with your neighbors and friends of your child. If at this point you can not locate your child call the police immediately.
If your child disappears while you are away from home - on a shopping trip, for example - notify the store manager or security office and ask for assistance, then telephone the police immediately.
When you call the police try and stay as calm as possible. Identify yourself and your location. State that you want to report a missing child. Be prepared to provide your child's name, date of birth, height, weight, and any unique descriptors that may help in locating your child. Knowing what clothing your child was wearing when he or she disappeared will also be of great help. After you have made your report to the police listen carefully to their instructions and answer their questions.
Conclusion
Any significant and unexplained deviation from your child's daily routine should prompt a timely law enforcement response. Police response may be further expedited if any of the following unusual circumstances exist.
Your child is under thirteen years of age
Your child is mentally incapacitated or drug dependant
Your child is the potential victim of foul play or is with adults who endanger the child's welfare.
Please feel free to contact the Monroe Police Department for further information on this or other safety related topics.