Youth Safety Week got its start in early 2002.
There were a number of high-profile child abductions that occurred in the first few months of that year. Sheriff McCabe brought the Community Affairs Division and Public Information Officer together to find a way to bring the safety of our youth to the forefront.
Within days, a plan for the first Youth Safety Week was in the works.
“I’m always concerned with protecting our youth,” Sheriff McCabe said at the time. “Now,” the Sheriff says proudly, “we have a system that provides parents a DMV quality ID card that I’m proud have in the community.”
Since 2002, thousands of FREE Safety Print™ ID cards have been produced during Youth Safety Week. The Safety Print™ system utilizes a laptop computer that produces an ID like the one below. The whole process, from the time the data is entered to the moment the ID card is ready, takes about a minute.
Each year, one week in August is set aside to saturate the community with as many events as possible. Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim proudly proclaims "Youth Safety Week" in the City of Norfolk. And the Norfolk Tides AAA Baseball team have hosted the kick-off event at beautiful Harbor Park in downtown Norfolk.
In 2005, the Norfolk Sheriff's Office partnered with the U. S. Navy and provided Safety Print™ ID cards at events at Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek and Naval Station Norfolk.