By: Stephanie Jacksis
KILLEEN - Local police departments are teaming up with Killeen ISD to increase safety near school bus stops.
In 2010, at least two cases of child abductions occurred in Bell County. Both happened while the girls were walking to or from a bus stop.
Now, Killeen Police have come up with a new program called "Kid Watch." They need hundreds of parent volunteers to help make it a success.
"Let the community know that we need their help with this," KPD Spokeswoman Carroll Smith said. "It can't just be a police problem or a community problem. If we work together, we can get a lot more done."
"They would monitor the routes," Child Safety Coordinator Julian Martinez said. "Making sure there's nobody out there that's monitoring our kids, or trying to take our children. There'd be a safe person to approach if a child would feel unsafe."
Schools in the district extend all the way from Fort Hood to Nolanville. That adds up to more than 1,300 bus stops that need adult supervision.
Because the 2010 abductions happened on the northwest side of Killeen, authorities said they're going start by putting volunteers in that area. They hope to have volunteers at the bus stops by the end of September.
If you'd like you volunteer, simply fill out a form on their web site at www.KilleenPD.com or you can visit them at their police headquarters at Community Boulevard.
