HANOVER AREA CHILD I.D. PROGRAM

According to a U.S. Department of Justice study, about 58,200 children are abducted each year by non-family members, with about 45% of those incidents being perpetrated by strangers.

At a local level, our police departments reviewed these startling facts and compared them to our specific concerns. There are 272 registered sex offenders in York County, 53 in Adams County, with approximately 52 in the Hanover area alone. Police departments in the Hanover area have been working on a unified Child I.D. Program that includes fingerprinting, photos, detailed personal information, and DNA collection all in one kit.

It is our goal to have police officers from various departments available to assist families in completing the kits at community and school functions. In addition to the police agencies, volunteers from Hanover Hospital, school districts, West Manheim P.T.O., West Manheim Crime Watch, Exchange Club, and Hanover Safe Home will also be available to assist families in obtaining DNA samples. Informative handouts will be provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Washington, D.C.

Residents of Penn Township who are interested in completing I.D. kits for their child or children should contact the Penn Township Police Department at 717-637-8751 for the date and time of the next program.