CITY COUNCIL EXPANDS CHILD-ID PROGRAM.

Byline: Mariel Garza Staff Writer

In light of recent high-profile kidnapping and missing-child cases, the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday approved expanding the LAPD's free child-fingerprinting and -photographing program.

``One of the elements that's proven very, very helpful in solving child- abduction cases, missing-person cases, is having a set of fingerprints for minors,'' said Council President Alex Padilla, who sponsored the motion.

In response to the request, Capt. Sharyn Buck, commander of the Juvenile Division, said the Los Angeles Police Department will place a fingerprinting/photographing machine in each of the department's four geographic bureaus, with a schedule of at least 48 fingerprinting events in each area annually.

The fifth machine will be placed with the LAPD's Community Affairs Department to take to larger parades, fairs and community events. The machines will be operated by civilians and reserve officers, Buck said.

Ideally, Buck said, the LAPD would like to have one of the $9,000 machines in every one of the city's 18 police divisions.

The LAPD will also look into the feasibility of working with local schools to have child fingerprinting and photography on the first day of school.

Mariel Garza, [phone]

mariel.garza(at)dailynews.com