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Photo by Daniel Lai
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Rick Neal, a member of Masonic Lodge #148 in Manchester, scans 2-year-old Jack Coluccy's fingerprint using special computer software provided by the Michigan Masons April 10.
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They provided fingerprints, DNA samples, teeth impressions and videotaped interviews, but they weren't suspects in a police booking room.
The procedures were part of a two-day effort April 9-10 by Manchester Masonic Lodge #148 to create identification kits that help police in the event a child is missing.
"With all the kids that come up missing these days, parents can now have very important information at the tip of their finger to give to law enforcement agencies immediately," member Guy Gilbert said.
Members of the community filled the gymnasium at the Manchester Community Schools' Nellie Ackerson Building to have their kits made.
"We made over 68 identification kits for parents. It has been a real successful effort," Gilbert said.
The Masons were one of several groups participating in the combined Manchester Co-Op Preschool, Manchester Early Childhood Center and First Steps Washtenaw preschool registration extravaganza.
"As a group, we have been approached by several parents who have been requesting the kits. When (Community Education Director) Sue Colvia asked us to come for the preschool open house, we thought it would be an excellent chance to ID the local kids," Gilbert said.
The Michigan Child Identification Program is a quick and thorough program adopted by Masons across the country.
After parents fill out a permission form with the child's name, age, height, weight, hair color, date of birth and any distinguishing marks, every child is interviewed on videotape. A volunteer asks questions such as, "What is your favorite color?" or "Where do you go to school?" This provides investigators with a tool to view the child's appearance, speech, mannerisms and characteristics at the time of the recording.
After the audio recording, a photo is taken of the child as well as fingerprints from all 10 fingers, a DNA sample using a cotton swab on the inner cheek, and a dental impression. Plastic wafers called "Toothprints" are warmed to the temperature of hot cocoa (about 120 degrees Fahrenheit) and the child is asked to bite on it.
"The impression technique is very simple and provides a great deal of information," Gilbert said.
Investigators can use this piece of plastic to determine the size, shape and position of a missing child's teeth. Another benefit is the presence of saliva odor on the Toothprint. The odor of the saliva may be the most important benefit for newly missing children.
"The benefits of saliva odor have lead to the introduction of a new safety tip for children called 'Spit for Safety.' Scent dogs, often used to find missing and abducted children, easily follow the odor of the subject's saliva," the group's Web site states. "With this in mind, adults and children who are lost are asked to spit on the ground periodically. Dogs will follow the spit trail to the victim."
To protect the privacy of a child, after all the data is logged onto an information sheet and burned to a CD for parents, the Masons destroy it.
"We don't keep any records," Gilbert said.
Fellow Freemason Rory Swan said he feels the program is beneficial to area parents because it serves as a deterrent against potential child predators.
"I think it provides parents with that comfort zone knowing that this is just another way they can protect their children," he said. "It's a great program that has helped a lot of people."
All of the computers, supplies and software was provided by the Grand Lodge of Michigan for no charge to parents.
"We plan to offer this again in the future," Gilbert said. "I think it was well received and the people will want us to come back and do it again."
Because of the tremendous amount of community participation, Gilbert said members of the Manchester High School National Honor Society also helped the group by logging data and taking pictures for the ID kits.
"They really helped us out a lot, so they deserve some of the credit," he said.
For more information on the Michigan CHIP program, visit the Web site www.gl-mi.org/michigan-child-identification-program.htm.
Editor Daniel Lai can be reached at 428-8173 or dlai@heritage.com.
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