Forensic Science Students Conduct Child ID Project, OK
Forensic science students conduct 'Child ID Project' by Nathan Winfrey March 02, 2006 The UCO Student Academy of Forensic Science conducted a Child ID Project Feb. 16 designed to help authorities locate missing children. Christy Smith of the UCO Child Development Center said the students took finger prints and mouth swabs from the children as their parents picked them up. Amber Cook, graduate president of SAFS, said the swabs collected DNA samples from the cells inside of the children’s cheeks. The students also took digital pictures of the children. The samples were placed inside an envelope and given to the parents, who filled out personal information forms inside the Missing Information on Lost Kids packets. Nick Ylla of Farmers Insurance Group brought the packets and helped distribute them. “Everything that was collected was given to the parents in case their child became missing. Since this is a parent’s worst nightmare, we at SAFS wanted to help the parents be prepared and be able to hand over all this to their local police department,” Cook said. Cook said the Child ID Project was born from SAFS’s desire to help the Edmond community with its forensic skills. About 14 volunteers were present, and 25 of the 40 children enrolled at the Child Development Center participated, all with their parents’ consent. “Nothing was done unless the parents were OK with it,” Cook said. John Cramer of the Crime Prevention Unit of the Edmond Police Department was also present to answer parents’ questions. “All the volunteers that were there felt that this was a great success and want to continue this again next year,” Cook said. http://www.thevistaonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/03/02/4407798bd1123