Operation Safe Child

"Operation Safe Child" is now available at the Sheriff's Office through a partnership with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, the New York State Sheriffs Association, the New York State Police, and the New York State Association of Chief’s of Police.

“Operation Safe Child" provides new ID cards (the size of a credit card) to parents across the state. It’s a voluntary new initiative that will help raise awareness about child safety and will help make the current Child ID system more readily available to parents throughout New York State. If any parent in Cattaraugus County would like to have their child (less than 18 years of age) participate in this program they are asked to call (716) 938-9191 to make an appointment with the Sheriff's Office or bring their child to one of the events listed below. Their child’s picture, fingerprints, height, weight, color of hair and eyes, etc. will be taken. The ID card is then presented to the parent or guardian for safe keeping.

Additionally, with written consent by the child’s parent or guardian, The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services will be able to record and store these records - information critical to expediting the return of a child if he or she becomes missing. Operation Safe Child will be available to interested parents and families statewide. The information gathered will be digitally recorded and stored in a separate database at DCJS. In the event DCJS receives a missing child, the fingerprints of that child will be included in a special search file and compared against all incoming fingerprints submitted to DCJS. Once included in the database, parents or lawful guardians can request that information be purged at any time and when a child turns 18, the information will automatically be purged from the database.

Requirements

Permission slips must be filled out and signed by a Parent or Legal Guardian prior to an ID Card being made
Child must be less than 18 years of age
Child must be old enough to sit in a chair for their photograph
Cards must be issued to a Parent or Legal Guardian (If the permission slip has been sent home with your child, the ID Card will be produced,
however it will remain at the school office where a Parent or Legal Guardian will be required to pick it up)

Facts about Operation Safe Child

The Parent or Guardian must sign a permission slip for an ID Card to be produced
Parents or Legal Guardian chooses whether to have the ID Card information stored at the Department of Criminal Justice Services in Albany
Parents can at any time have the records purged from the database at the DCJS
Records kept in Albany will not be accessed unless a child is reported missing

To learn more about Operation Safe Child, visit the New York State DCJS Operation Safe Child website.

Upcoming Operation Safe Child Events Scheduled for Cattaraugus County:

Agency: Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office

Date of Event: August 2 through 8, 2010

Hours: 11:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Location: Cattaraugus County Fair - Sheriff's Tent

Name of Event: County Fair

Address: 501 Erie St

City: Little Valley, NY

Agency: Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office

Date of Event: August 12, 2010

Hours: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Location: Allegany Community Federal Credit Union

Name of Event: Community Event

Address: 180 W Main St

City: Allegany, NY

Agency: Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office

Date of Event: August 14, 2010

Hours: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Location: Ellicottville Town Hall Park

Name of Event: Kid's Weekend

Address: 1 W Washington St

City: Ellicottville, NY

Agency: Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office

Date of Event: August 28, 2010

Hours: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location: Cattaraugus Fire Hall

Name of Event:

Address: 24 Memorial Dr

City: Cattaraugus, NY

Agency: Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office

Date of Event: September 17, 2010

Hours: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Location: Allegany Fireman's Community Center

Name of Event: Family Fun Night

Address: 188 W Main St

City: Allegany, NY

Agency: Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office

Date of Event: October 24, 2010

Hours: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Location: Allegany American Legion

Name of Event: Variety Club Kid's Day

Address: 4350 Route 417

City: Allegany, NY