McGruff Had a Capital Time in May

McGruff had a busy month as he helped recognize public employees and military personnel and promoted everything from Internet safety for children to safe car seat installation.

By Jeff Broderson, NCPC Staff

In May, McGruff the Crime Dog® spent a lot of time crisscrossing the nation’s capital as the ambassador of crime prevention.

From May 6 to May 8, McGruff attended the Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) event on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The event is sponsored each year by the Partnership for Public Service. PSRW is a time set aside to honor the federal, state, county, and local government employees and the military personnel who serve our nation. More than 100 government agencies and the U.S. military sponsor exhibits that showcase the innovation of public employees and the quality of their work. A 30-foot tall inflatable likeness of McGruff greeted visitors to the event, and McGruff was invited to help staff the U.S. Department of Justice table. More than 2,500 visitors to the PSRW event received information from McGruff on child safety, Neighborhood Watch, Celebrate Safe Communities, and Internet safety.

On May 22, McGruff participated in the Washington Office of Consumer Affairs’ Take 25 event at a local elementary school. Take 25 is a program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, whose goal is to heighten awareness about children’s safety issues. With a focus on prevention, the campaign encourages parents, guardians, and other trusted adult role models to spend time talking to kids and teaching them how to be safer. McGruff spent the day with more than 500 students from local elementary schools and members of the community to promote safety on the Internet, the prevention of bullying and cyberbullying, and the promotion of school safety.

McGruff also attended two other important events, including the Latin American Youth Centers’ Powell Elementary School Health Fair and the U.S. Capitol Police Car Seat Installation and Safety Fair. It was a busy month for McGruff but as the weather gets better and schools begin to let out across the country, he will continue to be busy “Taking A Bite Out Of Crime®.”