Missouri Child Identification and Protection Event

The Hazelwood Police Department (HPD) is hosting it's 3rd Missouri Child Identification and Protection Program (MoCHIP) in partnership with the St. Charles Masonic Loge #241 and assistance from Bridgeton Masonic Loge #80 on Sat., June 11, at Cabela's at St. Louis Mills in Hazelwood.

This event begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. The Bridgeton Freemasons are covering the event costs, allowing the HPD to provide this service free of charge to every family who wishes to participate.

The event has children go through the ID process, allowing parents to take home with them a sealed envelope containing vital information and instructions on what to do when a child ends up missing.

Several ID stations will be set up inside Cabela's to record the children's physical features, as well as snap digital photos and scan fingerprints. All this information is then burned onto a mini-CD disk, which can be uploaded to the Amber Alert system within a minute and a half. Other items such as two laminated ID cards, full dental impressions and other non-invasive DNA samples are put inside a sealed envelope, along with the CD, and given to each child's parents.  This entire process usually takes less than 20 minutes.

To help keep the children entertained, St. Louis Mills' Simon Kidgits Club will be offering several fun activities, a BBQ, and a Sensory Safari as part of its "Kids Safety Day." Life-size mascot characters such as the River City Rascals' Ruffy, McGruff the Crime Dog, and Darren of the D.A.R.E. program are scheduled to make appearances.

In addition, an ARCH helicopter will be landing in the parking lot next to Cabela's at 10 a.m.