WALTHAM, Mass. -- Polaroid Commercial ID Systems, a division of Polaroid Corporation, has partnered

with the Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Rotary Clubs to develop a

digital AMBER Alert Child ID Program.  The Hamden, Conn. Rotary Club is funding

and hosting a series of AMBER Alert "child image capture events" throughout

the state, at which the Polaroid Child Identification System will be used.

Events will be held at locations such as shopping malls, schools, daycare

centers and fairs.

        

John Judd, Connecticut Rotary program coordinator, said his organization's primary

goal is to maximize the number of children whose portrait and vital statistics

are secured in the state's AMBER Alert database.

 

"When a child is abducted,

literally every second counts," said Judd.  "In the event an AMBER Alert is

issued for a missing child, having his or her recent photo and identifying

features in the state's database will dramatically increase the Alert's speed

and effectiveness."

   

At each Hamden Rotary Club-sponsored event, organizers will employ the

Polaroid Child Identification system to photograph children under age 18 (with

written parental consent); capture and enter the portrait and identifying

data; and issue an ID card with the child's photo and statistical data.  The

ID Card does not include the child's name, phone number, fingerprint, or

address to preserve privacy and security.  At the conclusion of the event, the

child's information is entered into Connecticut's highly secure AMBER Alert

database.

   

Richard Balzer, president and CEO of R.A. Information Solutions, Inc.,

designed the program's security architecture, including its sophisticated

encryption, administration, and retrieval software.  The security architecture

was reviewed, approved and will be periodically audited by the University of

New Haven School of Public Safety.

   

AMBER Alert is named for nine-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was abducted

and murdered near her Texas home.  Responding to the tragedy, the Texas

Association of Radio Managers, with the assistance of law enforcement, created

the AMBER Alert plan in Texas.  The plan was designed to give radio listeners

and television viewers immediate information about child abductions that meet

AMBER Alert message criteria to aid in their safe and speedy recovery by law

enforcement officials.

   

Connecticut State Police Lt. Wayne I. Rioux, state coordinator of the

Amber Alert program, said that rapid response to an AMBER Alert was critical

to the success of a search effort.  "Our department is pleased to be

collaborating with Connecticut Rotary Clubs, Connecticut Police Chiefs

Association, the University of New Haven, and Polaroid Commercial ID on this

vitally important program," said Rioux.  "If we have virtually instant access

to a missing child's photo and description, we can quickly get the word out to

the community and our officers can begin their search immediately.  This

public-private collaboration," concluded Rioux, "should serve as a model for

other states' AMBER plans."

   

Polaroid Commercial ID general manager David Hazlett said his firm's

support of the Rotary's AMBER Alert Child ID program was a natural extension

of Polaroid's long-term commitment to child safety.  "Polaroid co-founded

KidCare, a national child safety and standardized photo identification

program, in .  Now, Polaroid Commercial ID is expanding that commitment to

the digital arena with the AMBER Alert program." 

 

Hazlett said that Polaroid

Commercial ID worked with Connecticut Rotary, the Connecticut State Police,

and system architect Rich Balzer to custom-design a system that met the

state's needs and was also compliant with the national AMBER Alert

specifications and requirements.

 

Source: Polaroid Corporation