Officers help keep Trick-or-Treaters safe

By Traci Storti Wilde
Special to the Pioneer Times
    Halloween brings out all kinds of spooky situations, but attentive parents are the first line of defense for protecting candy-seeking children.
    That was the message delivered by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) together with the Houlton Police Department Halloween night as officers used a mobile X-ray van to educate the public of potential dangers.
    CBP officers situated the mobile unit at the Houlton Police Department.  They then provided 58 demonstrations during a four-hour period, using sample candy and fresh fruit to show examples of tampering.  The event was a public service intended to continue the area’s longtime safety record.
    A second message presented by CBP officers was the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, in short, a discussion concerning what documents are needed for crossing the international border.  While a passport, passport card, or NEXUS card will facilitate crossings, U.S. citizens may still cross with proper government issued identification and a birth certificate as proof of citizenship until June of 2009.
    Police Chief Butch Asselin deemed the event a success, calling it “very well received by the community.”  He added that while no plans have been made for any future joint ventures, he would look forward to working with CBP again if the opportunity presented itself.
    Houlton Port Director Christopher Sullivan agreed with Asselin’s assessment.  “This was an excellent example of great cooperation between the host, Houlton Police Department, and CBP Field Operations to provide a service to the community,” said Sullivan.