Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Child identification program (CHIP)

If you have kids, you may want to stop by the old firehouse (on Maple Ave, right between the new firehouse and the Waverly) this Sunday between 11am-4pm. The Masons will be holding the annual CHIP program. But...

...what is CHIP?

CTCHIP is a comprehensive child identification program designed to give families a measure of protection against the ever increasing problem of missing children.

How does it work?The program consists of four major components:


~ a brief videotaped interview
~ a digital still photograph
~ fingerprinting
~ dental bite impression

The videotape is a recovery tool that provides far more individual characteristics and mannerisms than a still photograph. The digital photograph is also a valuable recovery tool. Fingerprinting is a tried and true method of individual identification. The dental bite impression provides an impression of the biting surface of teeth which, like fingerprints, are unique to each individual. The dental impression also collects enough saliva to provide DNA and a source for scent in canine recovery. Together, these four measures provide a most powerful identification and recovery tool.


Tim White

1 comment:

Lou Murray said...

Tim,
Thank you for mentioning the CHIP program.
I would like to add that all the material and information is given to the parents. Nothing is kept by the people providing the service. The parents will then have it to bring to the police in the event it becomes necessary. The disk used to record the information is a special type that can only be accessed by the police department, further insuring the security of the data.
This is a very well thought out program.