CHILD WATCH PROGRAM

The "Michigan Community Child Watch" program is a statewide volunteer program sponsored by local law enforcement. The program began in 1979 in response to the kidnapping and death of a 12 year old school crossing safety who was taken from a street corner. This program is designed to teach community members how to observe, report and respond to suspicious happenings in their neighborhood, with the focus being on children.

The requirements to participate are simple … any interested adult may fill out an application. A Criminal History background check will be conducted, and fingerprints will be taken. Successful candidates will participate in an educational training session, and then be issued an "EYE" poster to display in their residence window.

The "Eye" poster will show a child that he/she may seek assistance at that house in an emergency, and the participating adult(s) will contact the police, or fire department, as needed.

Volunteers are needed to participate throughout our community. Anyone interested may contact Police Officer Philip Fischer at the Redford Police Department, Crime Prevention Bureau, at (313) 387-2547.

The Focus of the Michigan Community Child Watch Program is to provide you with the tools which enables you to observe, remember, report and record all situations that could be labeled as dangerous, suspicious or questionable when it comes to the safety of our communities' children. As a member and a trained observer belonging to the Michigan Community Child Watch Program, you will become a valuable tool and a partner with your community law enforcement agency.

To qualify as a trained MCCW Volunteer, you must:

A. Attend an education session that takes approximately one hour, and

B. Complete a screening process by the local law enforcement agency.

Responsibilities of the MCCW Volunteer are:

A. Display the MCCW "Eye" poster in a prominent window in your home.

B. Report to the law enforcement agency any suspicious person(s) or activities you observe in your community.

Click here for detailed instructions as to what you need to observe and provide to law enforcement regarding:
a suspicious stranger or vehicle.

A volunteer's home is not to be used as a police station, a restaurant, a restroom facility or a weather refuge.

The function of the volunteer is to observe, remember, report and record what you think could be a threat to the children. You need not be the parent of school-aged children. We encourage all adults to be MCCW volunteers.

A MCCW volunteer is a valuable asset to the community and the law enforcement agency … you can take pride in being a part of this program.

LURES

These are some common lures predators use to entice children:

• The stranger will ask directions and then request the victim to accompany him in a vehicle to show him the way.
  
  
• The stranger states that his pet is lost and asks the victim for assistance in finding it. After unsuccessfully checking the area, by foot or by car, the stranger will invite the victim to accompany him while they check other locations.
  
  
• The stranger will request assistance with his vehicle. He will ask the victim to get into the driver's seat and turn the key for him. The stranger then also enters the driver's seat while grabbing the child, or the victim is grabbed by an accomplice who is hiding in the vehicle.
  
  
• The stranger will have the passenger window down in his vehicle and tell the victim he is disabled, and ask the victim to open the door and pick up something for him that he supposedly dropped on the floor. When the victim opens the door and leans down to retrieve the object, the stranger pulls the victim inside and takes off.
  
  
• The stranger will reprimand the victim for doing something wrong or for being in an area where he/she shouldn't be. The stranger will command the victim to get in the car so that he/she can be transported home to have his parent(s) advised of the wrong-doing. A YOUNGSTER PLAYING AROUND A CONSTRUCTION SITE OR AN ABANDONED BUILDING IS A PRIME TARGET FOR A PREDITOR!

(Note: WITH MANY OF THESE LURES, THE STRANGER HAS ESTABLISHED A TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VICTIM SO THAT HE IS NO LONGER A STRANGER IN THE EYES OF THE CHILD.)

PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN

As parents, we should remember that our children are most likely to be exposed to danger and receive injuries while involved in their most common day-to-day activities. Some of these activities require that parents or guardians teach their children about:

• Traffic/pedestrian safety - Do your children really know how to cross the street safely or do they just recite a few rules they don't fully understand?
  
  
• Fire safety - Does your family have an escape route to get out of the house in case of a fire?
  
  
• Seatbelt safety - Are we protecting our children while transporting them by using child restraint devices or seatbelts?
  
  
• Seasonal and holiday safety - Are your children being taught current seasonal safety messages?
  
  
• ORV, ATV, Snow Mobile, Moped safety - Do you know the laws concerning their operation in Michigan? Are you teaching your children to operate these vehicles within the law and safely?
  
  
• Gun safety - Are our firearms stored in our homes safely? Are your children taught not to touch them?
  
  
• Home alone - Are your children prepared to deal with emergencies? Should they be left home alone?

Many of our children receive frequent safety information through the school system. But we, as Child Watch volunteers, need to reinforce and practice these safety lessons at home. A MCCW volunteer should take note of all dangerous situations that confront our children and be prepared to report them to the local authorities. CARING CAN'T WAIT!