CA STATE ASSEMBLYMAN TODD SPITZER LEADS HUNDREDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS IN CHILD ABDUCTION & MOLESTATION PREVENTION TRAINING

California State Assemblyman Todd Spitzer recently led representatives of Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego law enforcement agencies in completing a comprehensive training program to serve as presenters for The AmberWatch Foundation “Be Safe!” child abduction and sexual molestation prevention program. The AmberWatch Foundation “Be Safe!” program will be presented to 3 million elementary school students and their parents throughout the 2005/06 school year.

“The participation of Assemblyman Todd Spitzer demonstrates the importance of educating our youth about ways to protect themselves from child predators,” says Keith Jarrett, executive director and founder of The AmberWatch Foundation. “This was the first of many training programs expected to take place on the west coast in the coming months – we initially rolled this program out in Palm Beach County and Miami-Dade County and plan to continue to roll out the program nationwide.”

Created in concert with law enforcement professionals, the “Be Safe!” child abduction, sexual molestation and child endangerment prevention program is designed in a comprehensive interactive education format presented by law enforcement professionals at no cost to the participating schools or municipalities. The program, designed to complement existing child safety education, focuses on empowering children with the information, tools and support they need to avoid potential endangerment scenarios.

In addition to California State Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, attendees included John Schaefer, Placentia Chief of Police; Arroyo Grande Police Department; Bell Gardens Police Department; Costa Mesa Police Department; Cypress Police Department; Glendale Police Department; Laguna Beach Police Department; Lemon Grove Police Department; Long Beach Police Department; Los Angeles School Police Department; Montebello Police Department; Monterey Park Police Department; Placentia Police Department; South Gate Police Department; Torrance Police Department; West Covina Police Department; Santa Ana Police Department; San Diego Sheriff’s Department; San Diego Police Department; O.C.S.D. Rancho Santa Margarita; O.C.S.D. San Clemente; City of Palmdale Public Safety; and Cal State Los Angeles Public Safety Department.

The AmberWatch Foundation is a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of child abduction and child endangerment. Its mission is to facilitate the AmberWatch Foundation “Be Safe” education program for children, parents and the community. For more information, visit www.AmberWatchFoundation.org.