Algonquin Police Department, Illinois

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.