FBI Launches Free Child ID App

Community Service Officer Tracy Mishler with the said there is no crime to report this week (woot!), but he did want to get the word out about a new Child ID app that has been created by the FBI.

I don’t have kids, so I can only imagine the horror a parent must feel if his or her child is missing even for a second.

I remember getting fingerprinted and having my picture taken when I was kid so that my mom and dad would have a kit that they could show police if I ever went missing.

The FBI’s first application, which launched this month, is like a child identification kit on your iPhone or iPad. It’s free and stores photos and vital information about your children so it’s always with you if you need it. If your child goes missing, you can show this information to police officers and security personnel right away. You can also e-mail the information to authorities or place a call to 911 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children right from the app.

The tool also includes tips on keeping kids safe and a checklist on what to do in the first 24 hours after a child goes missing, the most crucial time period in the search.

Right now, the Child ID app is only available to iPhone users and can only be downloaded for free from the App Store on iTunes, but the FBI says it plans to expand the tool to other types of mobile devices in the near future. And it will soon be adding new features, including the ability to upload other photos stored on your smart phone.

According to Mishler, the app is a “good tool for the parent and police.”

Get more information directly from the FBI.