The Algonquin Police Department's Child Safety Unit places kids first with the theme, "WE'RE HELPING PARENTS PLAY IT SAFE". We in law enforcement are called upon to do many things, one of which is to educate the public on the importance of utilizing properly installed child safety seats when transporting children. The Child Safety Unit is a vehicle that will promote Child Safety Seats and provide for the safe transport of children by law enforcement officers in a variety of situations:

• When children are taken in to protective custody (DCFS-related), this vehicle provides safe, kid-friendly transportation.

• When children have to be driven to the police department after their parent has been arrested for a traffic offense. It will insulate the child from the arrest, provide for the safe transport of the child and allow a softer approach to kids in a less than desirable situation.

• When the Department is involved in community education events, the vehicle will be used at a variety of safety seat inspection sites and other community-oriented events to promote safety.

This vehicle was designed as a concept vehicle in order to ensure that our officers are able to safely transport children in accordance with the child restraint laws. Currently there is no legal way to transport children in our existing squads due to the hard plastic seats required in the patrol vehicle and proximity to the airbag in the front seat. This vehicle will have three safety seats permanently mounted in the vehicle by a certified technician.

Rosen Hyundai (Algonquin) - donated the vehicle and agreed to give a safety seat to any parent who buys a new vehicle from Rosen and mentions this program.

Wal-Mart (Algonquin) - donated the three (3) Child Safety Seats that will be permanently installed in the vehicle. They also give us safety seats at various inspection sites at a reduced cost to replace the ones our technicians find to be defective. Additionally, Wal-Mart will offer a price break to Rosen on the seats they give to parents who purchase of a new Rosen Hyundai.

Ultra Strobe (Crystal Lake) donated and installed the lighting in our 2005 Child safety Seat Vehicle.

Custom Vehicle Systems (Libertyville) - donated the lights and installation of those lights for our 2004 Child Safety Seat Vehicle.

Village of Algonquin Vehicle Maintenance Division - assisted with the strobe lighting system.

Sign-X (Cary IL) - helped design, supply and install the signage with a donation from Wolschlager Chiropractic (Algonquin) to offset some of the cost.