The Saddle Brook Police Department's Community Services Bureau's "Project Child ID" is quite simple. Uniformed officers from the department go out into Township schools, and fingerprint kindergarten and new students to the district up to and including eighth grade. The idea behind the program is that most parents do not have a means of positively identifying their child other than a photograph. This program gives a positive form of identification to the parents and allows a friendly interaction between the children and the police department.
The program is voluntary and requires the permission of a parent or guardian.
Once the fingerprints are taken, the fingerprint cards are turned over to
the parent/guardian. The police department does not keep any record of the
fingerprints. In addition, instructions on where to keep the fingerprint
cards and additional information that should be kept with it are given to
the parents.
Since its inception within the Township, well over 5,000
students have been fingerprinted. Due to the extreme popularity of the program,
the Community Services Bureau has expanded its scope and now offers the
program during its National Night Out Against Crime
Public Safety Fair and it is also available for smaller groups while
taking a tour of the police station.
Project Child ID is performed annually in the Saddle Brook Elementary
Schools (public/parochial) and at special events. Contact your school or
the Community Services Bureau for scheduled
dates.
For more information contact the Community Services Bureau
using the information on the Contact Page
