“The information on this document is everything a parent would need to file a report with the police department if the child went missing,” says KPOA president John Stewart, noting that distraught parents commonly can’t remember their child’s eye or hair color when the child disappears.

KPOA purchased the fingerprinting software program with donations solicited from businesses in the community.

“Having up-to-date information on your child will enable law enforcement agencies to electronically disseminate essential missing child information, state­wide if necessary, within minutes, and will dramatically increase the possibility of bringing a missing child home unharmed,” says Kelly D’Errico, president of the Hillsboro-Deering Support Staff.

“As long as it’s a day’s drive,” Stewart adds, KPOA will share its fingerprinting program with other AFT locals that want to host their own event.

“It’s a nice way to get everybody to work together,” says Stewart, who wants the union to be synonymous with community service.

KPOA is currently the only law enforcement organization in New Hampshire to utilize the SentryKIDS® FingerTIPS™ digital fingerprinting software.

For the support staff union, the fingerprinting event is just one of many ways in which it has reached out to the community, both to improve its image and to build allies when it comes to tough times like stalled contract negotiations. What’s more, in New Hampshire, contract agreements are put to a vote of the local citizens, so public perception is vital to getting an agreement approved.

The local union’s other efforts—which D’Errico presented to a full room during a PSRP conference workshop earlier this year—included purchasing a banner with the union logo, which hangs on light poles in the town all summer (prime tourist season). The union also enlisted members to write letters to the editor of the local newspaper educating readers about the important services they provide in their jobs, and organized a drive (in conjunction with local churches, community groups and others organizations) to collect food, clothing and other supplies for needy children in the community.

The Hillsboro-Deering Support Staff includes paraprofessionals (including those who work in the library and office), cafeteria workers and secretaries.