Havre police seek support for child and senior safety program

The Havre Police Department, in conjunction with the National Child Safety Council, is disseminating educational materials for children and senior citizens on subjects ranging from drugs to identity theft.

A release from the police department Tuesday said the agency will be providing materials for children, preschool age and older, focusing on drug and crime prevention as well as general child safety.

National Child Safety Council is the largest and longest-serving not-for-profit organization in the United States dedicated to child safety, the release said.

For senior citizens, the release said, they are also providing materials including on safety, identity theft, drug and crime prevention, and internet safety.

These materials were developed by the National Child Safety Council, a non-profit organization that promotes child safety across the U.S.

Havre Police Chief Gabe Matosich said the department has been doing the program for five years and the council provides all kinds of high quality educational material on a variety of subjects for young people, from safely interacting with strangers, and being careful on skate boards and bikes.

Matosich said they also provide information on online scams which are useful for just about everyone, but especially older people.

“There’s a wealth of information on just about anything you could think of,” he said. “ ... It’s a great program.”

He said the program has an obvious positive impact so the department is happy to keep doing it, in both the city and the county, but they will need some extra funding to run it.

He said the council will be sending out letters and making calls to businesses and stakeholders in the area, and he wants to let people know that it is a legitimate organization so it isn’t mistaken for a scam.

All contributions are tax deductible, the department’s release says, and all sponsors will be listed on the prestige page of all activity manuals and magazines.

“The Havre Police Department would like to thank you in advance for your concerned support and we look forward to participating in this program,” the press release said.