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By Richard Kerns
rkerns@newstribune.info
tribune staff writer
KEYSER — Officials from Moose International will be in Keyser next month to film an interview with members of the Keyser Police Department as part of a promotional program for the Moose's “Tommy Moose” toy give-away for children in crisis situations.
Police Chief Karen Shoemaker and Officer Chris Paitsel are slated to be interviewed Sept. 15 to talk about how the toys helped Paitsel bring child molestation charges against Piedmont resident Michael Lynn Rosier, currently serving a state-prison sentence of at least 20 years.
The Moose organization is developing the video to increase awareness about the Tommy Moose program. “The way they talked, it might even hit national TV,” Paitsel said.
Moose Clubs nationwide distribute the stuffed animals to first-responders, police and other agencies that have contact with children in a time of crisis. Caught up in the swirl of events around them — strangers in their home, flashing lights outside — or perhaps momentarily separated from their parents, children are often traumatized by such emergency episodes. The soft toys, given by a caring firefighter or police officer, serve to comfort an anxious, frightened child.
Since 2002, the Moose has donated over 75,000 Tommy Moose plush dolls to various agencies across the U.S.
Beyond emergency incidents, the Tommy Moose toys can also help law enforcement officials establish bonds with children as part of criminal investigations.
That was the case when Paitsel, as chief of the Piedmont Police Department, worked with child victims to develop a case against Rosier in late 2007. Following the successful conclusion of the case, Paitsel wrote to the Moose organization to express his appreciation.
In his letter the veteran police officer noted that the victims, ranging in age from 7-13, were scared and apprehensive about being interviewed.
That’s when the Tommy Moose doll played a vital role.
“When the first interview started, it became difficult for the child to talk,” Paitsel wrote to the Moose. “I then remembered that Keyser Moose Lodge 662 had supplied us with Tommy Moose to give out to the children. I quickly obtained a Tommy Moose and gave it to the child.
The child's expression on seeing Tommy was one of joy. The child became more relaxed and was able to tell what had happened . . . I feel that because of Tommy Moose, I was able to obtain enough evidence that the accused had only one choice — to plead guilty.”
Paitsel's letter to the Moose is available on the Internet at www.mooseintl.org/public/comscv.asp. As Paitsel says at the conclusion of the letter, “Tommy Moose is now standard equipment with me.”
By Richard Kerns
rkerns@newstribune.info
tribune staff writer
KEYSER — Officials from Moose International will be in Keyser next month to film an interview with members of the Keyser Police Department as part of a promotional program for the Moose's “Tommy Moose” toy give-away for children in crisis situations.
Police Chief Karen Shoemaker and Officer Chris Paitsel are slated to be interviewed Sept. 15 to talk about how the toys helped Paitsel bring child molestation charges against Piedmont resident Michael Lynn Rosier, currently serving a state-prison sentence of at least 20 years.
The Moose organization is developing the video to increase awareness about the Tommy Moose program. “The way they talked, it might even hit national TV,” Paitsel said.
Moose Clubs nationwide distribute the stuffed animals to first-responders, police and other agencies that have contact with children in a time of crisis. Caught up in the swirl of events around them — strangers in their home, flashing lights outside — or perhaps momentarily separated from their parents, children are often traumatized by such emergency episodes. The soft toys, given by a caring firefighter or police officer, serve to comfort an anxious, frightened child.
Since 2002, the Moose has donated over 75,000 Tommy Moose plush dolls to various agencies across the U.S.
Beyond emergency incidents, the Tommy Moose toys can also help law enforcement officials establish bonds with children as part of criminal investigations.
That was the case when Paitsel, as chief of the Piedmont Police Department, worked with child victims to develop a case against Rosier in late 2007. Following the successful conclusion of the case, Paitsel wrote to the Moose organization to express his appreciation.
In his letter the veteran police officer noted that the victims, ranging in age from 7-13, were scared and apprehensive about being interviewed.
That’s when the Tommy Moose doll played a vital role.
“When the first interview started, it became difficult for the child to talk,” Paitsel wrote to the Moose. “I then remembered that Keyser Moose Lodge 662 had supplied us with Tommy Moose to give out to the children. I quickly obtained a Tommy Moose and gave it to the child.
The child's expression on seeing Tommy was one of joy. The child became more relaxed and was able to tell what had happened . . . I feel that because of Tommy Moose, I was able to obtain enough evidence that the accused had only one choice — to plead guilty.”
Paitsel's letter to the Moose is available on the Internet at www.mooseintl.org/public/comscv.asp. As Paitsel says at the conclusion of the letter, “Tommy Moose is now standard equipment with me.”
