WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) have had a long and continuous relationship; and

WHEREAS, the National Crime Prevention Council which has been a leader in Crime Prevention education and awareness teaches a stable set of Crime Prevention values and encourages public support of Crime Prevention efforts; and

WHEREAS, a McGruff House is a NCPC initiative which provides a temporary haven, a sense of security, and a source of emergency aid for children who find themselves in emergency or frightening situations while in their neighborhood; and

WHEREAS, a house that is designated a McGruff House is a place for appropriate short term help by an adult volunteer who agrees to provide emergency assistance for a child by telephoning appropriate authorities; reassuring and aiding children who are frightened or lost; and assisting children who have medical emergencies by obtaining appropriate medical attention; and

WHEREAS, the McGruff House Program is different from other block parent programs in that the symbol of McGruff, the crime fighting trench coated spokes dog for crime prevention is displayed on the house; and

WHEREAS, McGruff is recognized by 83 percent of Americas children because theyve seen him on television or in print, or because he has visited their school; and

WHEREAS, the McGruff House Program has established reasonable precautions against abuses in designing the McGruff House Program which has built in safeguards including requiring volunteers to agree to complete a favorable law enforcement records check; and

WHEREAS, the McGruff House numbered signs are strictly controlled and issued only after all screening procedures have been completed and the applicant is approved; and

WHEREAS, the local community recruits and screens McGruff House volunteers; educates youth and parents about the program; promotes public awareness of the program; and maintains and monitors the program; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), duly assembled at its 117th Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, hereby affirms its commitment to support and promote crime prevention initiatives that focus on the protection of children, youth, and families to improve the quality of life, and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the National Crime Prevention Councils (NCPC) further development and growth of the McGruff House program is a method for enhancing child safety in the community; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP and its member Law Enforcement agencies endorse the concept that the McGruff House Program would be the only bona fide user of the McGruff logo in conjunction with a safe house program. (Reinstated a 1988 Resolution)

Submitted by: Crime Prevention Committee
CPC.012.a10