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CPD partners with CLSD on safety initiative
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Canfield Police Department School Resource Officer Steve Garstka fingerprinted a Hilltop Elementary School fourth-grader for the Child Safety Fingerprint ID Kits the department provided for all elementary-aged children Jan. 16.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.A Hilltop Elementary School fourth-grade student took his turn getting fingerprinted by Canfield Police Department School Resource Officer Steve Garstka for the Child Safety Fingerprint ID Kits the department provided for all elementary-aged children Jan. 16.
By ABBY SLANKER
The Canfield Police Department has partnered with Canfield Local School District to present a collaborative safety initiative which will provide Child Safety Fingerprint ID Kits to all students in kindergarten through fourth-grade.
The police department will provide Hilltop Elementary School and C.H. Campbell Elementary School students with the Child Safety kits, which include space to record demographic information, dental chart, medical conditions, identifying features and an emergency directory.
School Resource Officer Steve Garstka visited both Hilltop and C.H. Campbell to fingerprint the students and hand out the kits for the children to take home and have their parents complete.
“The idea initially came from a PTO parent during Hilltop’s STEM Week. I was at the school demonstrating how to take fingerprints, and a parent approached me to ask if our department provided Child Safety kits for children. That interaction inspired the Canfield Police Department to purchase the kits for all Canfield elementary students. I worked with Mr. Maroni on a schedule when I could come to Hilltop to fingerprint the students and it all came together,” Officer Garska said.
Students were given a letter to their parents from Chief of Police Charles Colucci explaining the process. The letter also served as a permission slip and had to be signed and returned to the school for the student to participate.
“We are excited to provide this important safety initiative to our elementary-aged children, and would like to thank Superintendent Geordan for his support. We would also like to recognize the Parent Teacher Organization, who will assist in keeping this event organized,” Chief Colucci said.
According to Officer Garska, about 90 percent of Hilltop’s permission slips were returned.
“We had about a 90 percent return rate, so we had more than a majority of the children fingerprinted and given the Child Safety kits. We plan on providing this service every year after this for all the new, incoming Canfield kindergarten students,” Officer Garska said.