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Dru Hannon, (kneeling), explains the GACHIP program to fellow mason and Cordele Kiwanian Bill Pack.
GACHIP, freemasons protecting area children
CORDELE — Few things are more devastating than the trauma of knowing that a child has been abducted. Georgia Freemasons have developed a program that can speed the search process and make it more successful.
Called GACHIP (Georgia Child Identification Program), the Freemasons’ program keeps parents from having to search for photos, dental records and other identifying markers after the child has been reported missing.
If the child has been through the GACHIP program, parents have a DVD that can be given to local authorities who will upload the information to a national “Amber Alert” system, and the missing child report will go national within minutes.
Dru Hannon, a mason himself and district director of GACHIP, explained the program to Cordele Kiwanians Thursday.
Included on each child’s DVD are photos, digital finger prints and a video interview with the child. This video not only gives authorities a voice, but it enables them to pick up on individual mannerisms.
Hannon mentioned one particular child who had been abducted. Even though her hair had been cut and the color changed, authorities were able to identify her by the habit she had of twirling her hair around her finger.
Besides the DVD, GACHIP is unique in that it provides a dental plate made by a dental professional. In addition to the teeth marks, saliva and the child’s scent are sealed in a plastic bag up to seven years, provided the seal isn’t broken.
Children grow and change through the years, but the GACHIP program is free and a child may participate as often as parents wish.
Bill Pack, a mason with Cordelia Lodge #296, said a CHIP event is planned in October for the Cordele area.
Hannon said his Masonic Lodge in Fitzgerald has been able to partner with several community organizations, and they provide funding as well as manpower for CHIP events.
“We go into schools, churches, business locations, wherever we can get some children and parents together,” he said.
During his presentation Thursday, Hannon presented some astounding statistics concerning missing children and sex offenders.
He showed a map which indicated that currently, there are 44 registered sex offenders in Crisp County and 369 in the Crisp area which includes all the surrounding counties.
“I-75 makes this area extremely dangerous,” Hannon explained.
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