This is what I would like to see (Child I.D. Program)

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SPRINGFIELD - The world may not be any more dangerous than it was last
year. But it may not be any safer either. That was the observation of
Richard Caruth of the Masonic Lodges of the 36th Masonic District.
For the second year, members of the Freemasons of Pennsylvania were
offering a Child Identification Program package (CHIP) as a part of
Springfield's National Night Out event, coordinated by the Springfield
Police and held at Springfield Country Club.
The CHIP booth had a line from the event's 6 p.m. start. Moms and dads
with babies and toddlers were lining up for the ID kits, which will
contain their child's fingerprints, a digital video and still photo
and material for DNA collection. There is no charge for the kit, which
can be kept in a safe place for use by law enforcement in the highly
unlikely event a child is missing.
"Last year we were here and did 83 kits," said Caruth. "This year, it
will probably double. People are learning about CHIP by word of mouth.
It is peace of mind for the parents. Freemasons started the project in
2004. Since then, we have done about 2,000 kits just in the Delaware
County area. We've never heard of anyone having to use it."
"We came primarily for the CHIP program. We're very safety conscious,"
said Lisa Wagner. She and husband, Mike, had tots of 3 and 4 in tow.
"It was also nice to come out for the evening. Everything else we are
doing tonight is a bonus," Wagner added, nodding toward the pool.
The "everything else" assembled had appeal to young and old. First,
there was the free food provided by a few local eating establishments
like Famous Dave's and Thunderbird Pizza, who showed community
involvement.
Springfield police, fire company, ambulance service and several county
first responders displayed equipment and know-how. It was a chance for
people to experience tools and apparatus generally not seen up close.
"These are things kids usually see on TV, and I'm not sure if that's a
good or bad thing," said Springfield Police Sgt. Joseph Sadoff.
Sadoff was standing between the SWAT vehicle and a table laden with
helmets, shields, weapons and even a taser, all in some fairly ominous
shade of black.
"We can explain how we use all of this equipment. I don't let them
touch anything unless they ask, and don't let them touch the guns at
all," Sadoff said as at least one small boy eyed the table with awe.
While the exact technology is beyond all but the engineering experts,
a robot from the County Investigation Division's Bomb Squad was
equally fascinating.
Explaining the capabilities of this $158,000 piece of super-high-tech
machinery (funded through Homeland Security), Bomb Squad personnel
Herb King and Scott Bireley clearly showed their own admiration. The
uses are diverse, with applications for unidentified objects,
hazardous materials and dangerous suspects. The main objective is to
keep law enforcement personnel safe.
The county's 911 mobile communications unit was on site, displaying
its capability of pinpointing a cellular phone call as close as 100
feet. Also distributing information were agencies that provide county
residents varied services, including Delaware County Women Against
Rape, Senior Victims Services, County Office for Services for the
Aging (COSA) and Neighborhood Crime Watch.
In addition to all the professional first responders, agency services
and advance equipment that protect residents, Springfield's National
Night Out event exhibited another vital component of community safety.
That is the community itself.
"People came out to this," said Springfield police Lt. William Clark.
"They learn about services they may not have been aware of, but they
see their friends and families also."
Looking out for one another seems to be what makes neighborhoods safe
and strong.