McGruff Safe House
The primary purpose of the McGruff Safe House program is to identify homes to serve as a safe refuge for children who are frightened, injured, lost, in danger, crime victims, or in an emergency situation.
Check out what Eric Loney from KXLY has to say about McGruff Safe Houses…
See Spokane C.O.P.S. McGruff Safe House PSA…
Who Should Apply?
- Persons having children in elementary school
- Young married adults without children
- Parents of high school age youth
- Older persons
- Daycares
- Apartment Complexes
- Businesses
- Anyone who resides or works in the elementary school attendance area
How To Become A McGruff Safe House
It is easy and quick. Read what Kid Sports and SoccerTots has to say about their application process to become a McGruff Safe House.
Step 1. Complete the Block Watch and/or McGruff Safe House Application
Step 2. Pass the law enforcement background check.
Step 3. A site visit will be made with a C.P.T.E.D. (Crime
Prevention Through Environmental Design)
evaluation and a photo will be taken for the file.
Step 4. Read and sign the McGruff Safe House Guidelines
Step 5. A pre-numbered McGruff Safe House sign will be
assigned to you.Membership is reviewed and renewed annually. Contact your area C.O.P.S. Substation or call 835-4572.
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McGruff Still Biting Crime 20 Years Later in Spokane!
Twenty-some years ago, McGruff Safe Houses were established all over Spokane, providing safe havens for children who are locked out or in trouble. Today, the houses are still around, but their numbers have diminished significantly. The program boasted more than 250 houses citywide in the past, but within the last few years, the number dropped to 132 active participants.
“Ideally, McGruff Safe House participants need to be home during the morning and afternoon hours to provide safe locations for children to go in an emergency”, said Maurece Vulcano, Programs Manager for Spokane C.O.P.S. ”When adults think of emergency situations, we think of assault or kidnapping. Kids think of being locked out, lost, hurt or frightened. They need the security of knowing there is somewhere they can go in an emergency.”
As a result of the time constraints, most volunteers work from home, work part-time or are retired. Even with fewer participants, the need for McGruff Safe Houses remains high. If every block had one, there would be more safety for every child. There’s always a need for McGruff Safe Houses. They’re needed not just in Spokane, but in all areas where there are children.
We are looking for people that have been a McGruff Safe House in the past, but we have no record to help us find these people. Please contact the Spokane C.O.P.S. main office at 509-835-4572 if you’ve been an established McGruff Safe House, but have not had contact from your C.O.P.S. Substation Coordinator in the past 4 years. We need your help to build Spokane’s McGruff Safe House program back to it’s resounding success experienced in the past.
Do they work?
Measuring the effectiveness of McGruff Safe Houses is a difficult task; there’s really no way to do it. McGruff Safe Houses get used an average of once every two years, though providers don’t necessarily track each use accurately. A participant may run a McGruff Safe House for years, and have no kids use it. Although there may not be any children using the McGruff Safe House, you may want to become a provider “just in case.” The important thing is to make sure kids feel safe in the neighborhood.
Any way we can create safety between people is very important. We need to stick together and look out for the needs of our children.
If you have questions about the McGruff Safe House program, please fill out the form below.