Wahpeton police seek business support for child safety program | #childsafety | #kids | #chldern | #parents | #schoolsafey

WAHPETON — The Wahpeton Police Department is asking local businesses to help fund child safety and drug prevention materials distributed through the National Child Safety Council, a partnership the department has maintained for 15 to 20 years.

Police Chief Matthew Anderson said the program predates his tenure as chief and continues a relationship former Chief Scott Thorsteinson established with the council.

The National Child Safety Council, a nonprofit organization, provides coloring books, child ID kits, DNA kits and other safety materials for children, along with resources for older adults. Businesses can help cover the cost by donating $4 per child. Donations can be made online at

donate.nationalchildsafetycouncil.org

or by calling 877-472-3377.

Anderson said area businesses send checks to the department each year, and he forwards them to the council. A council representative then works with the department to order materials based on requests from School Resource Officer Tom Doboy.

“It’s excellent,” Anderson said of the community response.

Doboyou uses the donated materials in courses he teaches in Wahpeton Public Schools, including the Safety Pup program, a modern successor to the McGruff the Crime Dog program used for decades.

Anderson said the program’s value extends beyond the materials themselves. Early, positive interactions with police help build trust that carries through a student’s school years.

“It helps us develop those relationships early, when students are young,” Anderson said. “It lets them see us as something other than a police officer taking an enforcement action. It helps us bridge that gap and just cultivate those relationships with our citizens at a young age.”

Manisha Reddy is a reporter for the Wahpeton Daily News and Richland County News Monitor. Manisha can be reached by calling (701) 291-3581 or emailing manisha.reddy@wahpetondailynews.com.