Dick
Tracy Comic Strip
The Federal Bureau of Investigation,
the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
(NCMEC), and the Tribune Media Services Company of Chicago,
Illinois, are working together again, this time in finding
missing children. The Tribune Company distributes the
popular cartoon strip, Dick Tracy, which is written by
mystery writer Mike Kilian and drawn by Pulitzer Prize
winner Dick Locher.
Beginning on October 20,
2002, and running daily through December 15, 2002, Dick
Tracy will feature a story of a missing/abducted child.
With permission from families around the United States,
the FBI is providing Mr. Kilian and Mr. Locher with pictures
and descriptive information of the actual missing/abducted
children. During the same period, several profiles of
actual missing or abducted children will appear in the
Crimestoppers column. In addition, the National Center
will provide safety tips for parents and children on how
to be safe, and how not to talk with or go anywhere with
strangers and people you do not know.
This initiative continues
an on-going cooperative relationship between the FBI and
Tribune Media Services. In 1999, the Dick Tracy strip
profiled all the fugitives who, at the time, were on the
FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list. At the
same time, Dick Tracy successfully caught a "Top
Ten" fugitive with the public's help in the cartoon
strip. Through the cartoon hero's more than 70 years of
history, Dick Tracy has fought many kinds of criminals
and solved numerous types of cases that have followed
real-life situations occurring around the U.S.
"It was a great way
not only to publicize very dangerous fugitives, but to
educate the public about the FBI and the 'Top Ten' list,"
said Bruce Gebhardt, the Deputy Director of the FBI. "Dick
Tracy profiling missing and abducted children is a natural
extension of the fugitive publicity program at the FBI.
Thousands of pairs of eyes will see these kids and hopefully,
the cases can be solved and the public will learn more
about the FBI and the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children," Gebhardt said.
The FBI suggests that if
readers of the Dick Tracy comic strip recognize any of
the children profiled this fall, they should call the
police or the nearest FBI office. Telephone numbers are
in the front of telephone books. In addition, actual photographs
of missing and abducted children may be seen 24/7 on the
FBI's Internet site: http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/kidmiss.htm
and on the National Center's Internet site: http://www.missingkids.com.
Dick Tracy appears in more
than 100 newspapers around the United States including
The Washington Times, Orange County Register (California),
The Chicago Tribune, and
The Houston Chronicle.
Anyone with information
about missing children or fugitives are asked to contact
the nearest FBI office. If outside the United States,
contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
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