Washington, DC — Surrounded by civic and community leaders and local dignitaries, McGruff®, the well-known crime prevention spokesdog, today commended the citizens of Washington, D.C. at a celebration for their outstanding crime prevention efforts. McGruff announced that he has moved to Washington, D.C. to participate in many of the innovative crime prevention programs that have helped reduce the city's crime rate. His costume was donated to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPDC) by ADT Security Services, Inc. McGruff's appearance is the final stop of a 20-city tour celebrating his 20th birthday and highlighting successful crime prevention programs in communities across the country. Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Margret Kellems agreed that McGruff has had a major impact on the way local residents view their role in crime prevention.

"Over the past several years, the citizens of Washington, DC have really taken an active role in preventing crime in this city, and their efforts have been met with tremendous success in making their neighborhoods safer and better places to live," said John A. Calhoun, president and CEO, National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC). "McGruff's core message is that everyone can and must do something to stop crime and help change the conditions that produce crime. The results of an involved citizenry are a safer community and a stronger sense of community togetherness."

"ADT is in the business of crime prevention and has a long standing relationship with NCPC," said Mike Snyder, president of ADT. "We are happy that our support will allow McGruff the Crime Dog to 'have his day.'"

Since his introduction in 1980. McGruff has helped communities across the country develop innovative programs for local crime prevention in areas ranging from home security to keeping kids safe on the Internet. Washington, DC has adopted several successful crime prevention program that have helped decrease crime throughout their city to keep it safe for the future.

There are numerous successful crime prevention activities throughout Washington, DC. Operation Crackdown helps to provide community groups with free legal representation to help combat neighborhood "drug hubs." A group of specially trained lawyers are maintained who are willing to devote a portion of their time, free of charge, to help bring the menace of neighborhood drug trafficking to an end.

The MPDC has also set-up a successful Crime Solvers program. It has proven to be a cost-effective investigative aid that helps open the lines of communication between the community and law enforcement. A confidential toll free number was set-up for a person with knowledge of a crime, particularly the "crime of the week," can call in and give the information they have found to the police.

"The National Crime Prevention Council has been a welcome partner for the Metropolitan Police Department in our efforts to prevent crime and promote awareness about crime. McGruff is an icon to millions of children, and it is through his efforts and those of his colleagues at the National Crime Prevention Council that we continue to pursue a positive relationship with the community we serve. We celebrate 20 years of McGruff and we think that he is doing a doggone good job of helping us 'take a bite out of crime,'" said Chief Charles H. Ramsey .

As a national spokesdog for crime prevention, McGruff has experienced tremendous success over the past 20 years. He has visited every state and territory. Now, McGruff has taken his crime prevention message to the Internet, teaching a new generation of kids how to fetch more information and how to be safe surfing the web by taking a "byte" out of crime through special kid-oriented site at www.mcgruff.org . McGruff also has starred in one of the most successful public service advertising campaigns in American history, and he continues to make crime prevention everybody's business through educational materials and personal appearances.

In 1993, McGruff introduced his nephew, Scruff, an active, imaginative, sometimes impulsive "kid" who brings messages to children about making good decisions in potentially dangerous situations. A just-completed study of characters revealed that McGruff is well known by children and adults, especially among adults with children at home and adults aged 18 to 34. More than three-quarters of 9- to 11- year-olds were aware of McGruff, as we were more than half of all adults. Ninety-three percent of children who know him agreed with the statement "I think McGruff helps me be safer."

McGruff's 20th Anniversary Tour, made possible by a partnership with ADT Security Services , ran throughout the summer to allow the nation to learn about successful crime prevention programs being implemented across the country.