CHIP program aims to take a bite out of crime against kids

CHIP program aims to take a bite out of crime against kids

The South Dakota Child Identification Program, sponsored by the Free Masons of South Dakota, gathers five integral pieces of data on children: picture ID, video, tooth compressions, a DNA swab and fingerprints. Pioneer photo by Jaci Conrad Pearson

CHIP program aims to take a bite out of crime against kids By Jaci Conrad Pearson Black Hills Pioneer Black Hills Pioneer

DEADWOOD More than 30 Lead-Deadwood children stand a better chance of being found, should they ever be abducted.  On Friday they participated in a CHIP program, sponsored by Deadwood's Masonic Lodge No. 7, Lead's Golden Star Lodge No. 9 and the Lead-Deadwood Elementary PTO.

Offered free of charge, with a $5 per child materials cost covered by local Masons,  parents took their children around to five stations where volunteers and professionals performed integral Child Identification Program (CHIP) identification procedures, including: dental impressions, a DNA cheek swab, a digital still photo, fingerprinting and a video imaged interview.

All materials were then placed in an envelope and parents were advised to store them in the freezer, where they would last around 10 to 12 years.

“You'll probably want to come back and do it again before she goes to college,” said Ron Johnson, a P.A. at Fort Meade who manned the cheek swab and dental impression station. “The largest group of abductions today is within college-aged females.”

He was speaking to Collene Wisser, mother of 8-year-old Chloe Wisser and 6-year-old Mason Wisser, who took time out from her Friday evening to complete an exercise that now has her children automatically entered into the nationwide Amber Alert System.

“I'm doing it just in case we need it,” Wisser said. “If they ever get lost, we'll have all this information in one spot.”

Kim Spransy ushered her 5-year-old son Warren Burke through the CHIP stations.

“We're doing it just because Warren could get lost and it's reassuring to know that there's a safeguard,” Spransy said. “We're actually updating it because we feel it's important. His height and weight have changed. We're so glad that they do these family fun nights.”

And the Masons are glad to participate in this particular one.

“I have seven kids and over 20 grandchildren,” said George Laun, a Lead Mason. “My late wife took the kids and had this done when they still did it with Polaroid cameras, back in the 70s. It was important then and I think it is now. With luck, you'll never have any use for it, either.”

“I think it's important, that the kids should know we're out to help them and we're concerned about their safety,” said Willie Steinlicht, a Deadwood Mason. “We even have law enforcement officers they can talk with here and get tips.”

Trooper Ed Fox with the South Dakota State Patrol said that the program is highly valuable and was glad to see parents and children taking advantage of it.

“In the event that a child does become lost or missing, it gives law enforcement a good basis to identify the child and helps us in trying to find them,” Fox said. “Time is always of extreme importance in these cases. When it's readily available, all emergency response people can quickly focus on finding the child.”

Fox said that the number one way to avoid using the CHIP information is prevention and urged parents to do what he was doing Friday night.

“Parents need to take the time to talk with kids about this,” Fox said. “They need to know that it can happen to them. It will only help them. Unfortunately, people think it's uncomfortable to talk about, as if talking about it might make it happen or they might be concerned that it would scare children. Families need to talk about it so they know what to do if it happens.”