Deadwood police chief honored for work with child ID program

 Rapid City Journal | Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 6:39 am |

Deadwood Police Chief Kelly Fuller receives an award from South Dakota Freemasons. From left are John Narem, Willie Steinlicht, Deadwood Chief Kelly Fuller, Master Tom Harvey, SDCHIP Chairman Mike Rodman and Paul Holtsclaw. (Courtesy photo)

DEADWOOD — Deadwood Police Chief Kelly Fuller was recently honored by the Freemasons of South Dakota for the Deadwood Police Department’s support of the South Dakota Freemasons Child Identification Program and Fuller’s willingness to be the SDCHIP spokesman on the South Dakota Child Identification Program’s public service announcements.

Fuller was presented with a plaque from the Grand Lodge of South Dakota that stated: “For outstanding dedication to the SDCHIP program” by Deadwood Lodge 7 Master Tom Harvey. “The members of the Deadwood Masonic Lodge are proud and appreciative of the Deadwood Police Department and Chief Fuller’s efforts and support of the Child Identification Program," Harvey said.

The South Dakota Freemasons Child Identification Program is the most comprehensive child identification program available to parents. When completed, parents are given all materials for easy access and safekeeping, including a brief video interview of their child, digital photograph, digital fingerprints, cheek swab and an impression of their teeth. 

Along with the Deadwood Police Department, the SDCHIP program is conducted by South Dakota Freemasons in cooperation with the South Dakota Dental Association, South Dakota Sheriff’s Association, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol in conjunction with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Freemasonry, a benevolent, educational and charitable organization with nearly two million members in the United States, provides $2 million a day in charity through its lodges and appendant bodies. Masonic Lodges across South Dakota support various local youth and community projects and humanitarian efforts including the Child Identification Program, Masonic Model Student Assistance Program and various scholarships. Go to www.sd-chip.org and www.mygrandlodge.org for more information.

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