Artie Woods and McGruff Celebrate 25 Years Together

It was a struggle to get started, but Artie Woods has been spreading the message about crime prevention for more than 25 years.

By Jeff Broderson, NCPC Staff

As McGruff the Crime Dog® turns 30, we should all remember that his crime prevention message has been spread by law enforcement officers who talked to children, parents, seniors, and business people while using McGruff as a tool to spark interest or get their point across. There have been many champions of McGruff, but few more so than Artie Woods of the Wichita, KS, County Sheriff’s Department. Woods has spent 25 years teaching children and others about crime prevention through his use of McGruff and the McGruff puppet.

Woods joined the Sheriff’s Department in 1984. That was when he first became involved with the McGruff program and decided to pursue citizen involvement in crime prevention. As told by Marissa Millender of the Times Record News of Wichita Falls, TX, initially Woods didn’t receive the support he wanted until he met a teacher at a local elementary school who shared his concerns about changing the lives of kids and other residents throughout Wichita County. Since then, he and McGruff have talked to kids, kindergarten to high school, about gangs, drug abuse, child safety, and Internet safety.

In January, Woods returned to the same school and was surprised by the teacher he had met years earlier (who was now the principal) who presided over a cake-and-punch reception for him. It was a fitting testament to a man who is dedicated to McGruff and crime prevention. But Woods wasn’t surprised when, on October 10, the town of Wichita Falls had a celebration of Crime Prevention Month and McGruff. The event included a barbeque, parade, and of course a visit from McGruff. Woods’ daughter, Joanna, described her father’s dedication to McGruff and the fact that with his own money, he transformed his personal Chevrolet Camaro into a look-alike of the McGruff-edition matchbox car.

Artie Woods, like so many others, has championed McGruff the Crime Dog and crime prevention for many years. Let’s all hope that he continues his important work. Just like all the other McGruff portrayers across the country, he performs an invaluable community service and finds it’s well worth the time. Woods may have struggled to get a start, but his legacy will be felt for years to come.

If you would like to be a fan of McGruff and Artie Woods visit them on Facebook to show your support for all their hard work.