INFORMATION #1 04-17-2000 Memorandum INFn
'~/ -\/ l'dayor and City Council O~ATI~,~
~ ~;~m: ~omas D. Zemas, Chief of Police~
El iver Date: April 13, 2000 ~
Police Department Subject: CHILD SECURITY IDENTIFICATION
SYSTEM
Every year the police department, either at our law enforcement open
house or in the schools, conducts child fingerprinting clinics for
children in the community. These fingerprint cards are kept by the
parents for identification purposes should their child(ren) ever be
abducted.
In the past, we have had to use ink pads and fingerprint cards that, as
you can imagine with young children, becomes very messy for the
children and us, as well.
We have found a new child security identification system called
CompuKid that is state of the art digital video capturing. A
photograph of the child is taken, along with their fingerprints being
digitally photographed. This is printed onto a piece of paper, along
with personal information about the child.
This information is then stored on a disk, given to the parents for them
to keep should the unthinkable ever occur. The cost for this system is
approximately eight thousand dollars ($8,OOO.OO).
We have been asking around the community to see if there might be
support from the business community and fraternal organizations. I
am happy to report that Crime Prevention Officer Darren McKernan
has been very successful. He currently has raised approximately
seven thousand dollars ($7,000.00) for the CompuKid purchase, with
commitments for another one thousand dollars ($1 ,OOO.OO)
With our open house scheduled for May 6, 2000, Darren arranged
with the company that sells CompuKid for us to have a demo for child
fingerprinting that day. If we raise the remaining funds, we would
then purchase the demo provided.
I am, therefore, advising you of this possible purchase and hope that
you won't object to the purchase if we receive donations to cover the
cost. If you have any problems with this planned purchase, please
contact me.
TDZ/knaa
13065 Or0n0 Parkway · P.O. Box 723 · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-2324 · Fax (612) 441-8937
It is a fact that over 3,000 children are
reported missing each and every day in the
United States. Most are found within
minutes or hours and have happy endings.
Police officials say that this time frame is
critical. According to Police, one major
problem that costs precious time is the
gathering of current photographs,
fingerprints and statistical information to
assist law enforcement agencies during
this critical period.
While most are quickly reunited, there is
always the fear of the worst, that is what
we must all prepare for. Parents will go to
any reasonable length to find a safe
solution. CompuKid is the answer.
COmpuKid is a child security &
identification system, which will:
· Take the child's picture using a Digital
Video Capture Device that interacts with
our custom software. This picture is
cropped to size and placed in the CompuKid
personal file.
· The software then captures the child's
fingerprints using an ink-less print capture
device, and includes them as part of the
child's file.
· Finally, crucial statistical information is
entered into ~ lile to make it complete.
The CompuKid system, procedure and
layout .were developed, using
recommendations from consultants for the
FBI, Police Officials and the Jacob
Wetterling Foundation. Upon their
recommendations we include crucial
statistical data needed for the child's file,
determined that the fingerprint capture
would be the thumb and forefinger of each
hand, and decided a full color head &
shoulders photograph would complete the file.
The child's information is then printed on
hard copy and also stored on a 3 1/2"
diskette which is given to the parents,
grandparents, Or guardians for
safekeeping. No information stays in the
CompuKid computer.
32 L~
Blond
The actual hard copy is printed with afull
color photograph.
Should a child become lost or worse
kidnapped, the diskette can be taken to
the local Police Department where they
can open the file to obtain the information,
which will help them in a quick
identification. The information is in an
HTML format, i.e., an Internet format,
which can be opened by an Internet
browser such as Microsoft's Internet
browser. This would make it very simple
for the authorities to publish (as they deem
necessary) the HTML file on the Internet
and send it all over the world in minutes or
print it for distribution.
The equipment to do all of this is included
in a complete system. It includes:
- Pentium Precessor/Laptop PC
- Windows 98 & CompuKid Software
-USB Digital Camera with stand
- Biometric Fingerprint Capture Device
- Inkier Color Printer
- Starter Kit of Misc. Supplies
Lease or purchase options are available as
well as service & maintenance contacts.
Call today for your Information Kit.