Alpharetta Police Unveil Child Fingerprint System

As millions of children start back to school, the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety is preparing to launch a new digital fingerprinting identification system designed to help parents find a lost or abducted child. The system is the most comprehensive, technologically advanced family safety program of its kind.

"The ability to have information at the fingertips of parents in the case of a missing child or abduction allows for an immediate response and communication to law enforcement all over with the click of a button,” said John Albers, Alpharetta Public Safety Foundation Chairman.

Donated by the Alpharetta Public Safety Foundation, the $6,000 system will be presented by police officers and foundation board members Thursday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. at the Public Safety Annex at 2970 Webb Bridge Road in Alpharetta.

The SafeAssured ID system includes a mini cd that can be shared with law enforcement, the media and community within minutes of a child’s disappearance.

It contains:
up to 10 digital fingerprints, digital photographs;
streaming video showing mannerisms and gait;
voice track providing the child’s voice and accent;
general physical description;
vital personal information (street address, date of birth, life-threatening medical conditions, identifying scars or marks, and tattoos); and,
family code word.

The system will be used at community functions, where families will receive a durable, full-color photo ID card and a Parent’s Guidebook, written in conjunction with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, containing helpful safety information.

Officer Terry Joyner advanced the idea of the digital fingerprinting system to the department after seeing it demonstrated at the National Conference on Preventing Crime in Atlanta.

“I came back and did some research,” he said. “We were looking to replace our old-style, ink fingerprint kits that have been traditionally been used by law enforcement agencies for children ID kits. I spoke with some departments that used SelfAssured ID and found it to be a state-of-the art system for law enforcement.”

The Alpharetta Public Safety Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization formed in 2006 by business and community leaders dedicated to maintaining world class public safety to the citizens of Alpharetta. To learn more, please visit the foundation’s website at www.apsfoundation.org .