By David E. Graham
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

February 23, 2002

EDUARDO CONTRERAS / Union-Tribune Marc Klass, whose own daughter was abducted and killed in 1993, spoke Friday night at a community forum in Sabre Springs.

A community gathering at Danielle van Dam's school last night heard suggestions for protecting children and reassurances that police and volunteers will continue searching for the girl.

At Creekside Elementary School, just blocks from Danielle's home, children's advocate Marc Klaas urged people to make it more difficult for those who might prey on children. He offered a range of suggestions, from reporting suspicious behavior to fingerprinting children for easier identification.

"We're talking about empowerment this evening," said Klaas whose daughter, Polly, was kidnapped and killed in 1993 in Petaluma.

Klaas called David Westerfield, whom police arrested yesterday on suspicion of kidnapping and burglary, "a sniveling punk."

San Diego police Capt. Nancy Goodrich told the estimated 200 people gathered in an auditorium that the investigation will continue, adding, "This case is not over until we find Danielle."

Goodrich also said the Sabre Springs community, despite Danielle's disappearance, is one of the city's safer areas with relatively little crime.

Danielle's parents did not attend. But in a statement they sent that was read to the crowd, they thanked police and citizens for their work searching for their daughter.

"We're overwhelmed with so many emotions and want to spend some quiet time with our family," they said.

Klaas conducted most of the meeting, offering his suggestions on how people could protect themselves and their children and then taking questions.

He advocated developing more after-school programs to occupy children, adjusting some laws governing sexual crimes, creating community watch efforts and monitoring children's chat rooms.

Parents' fingerprinting of their children and having a DNA source, even a baby tooth, could help identify a missing child later, he said. He suggested having recent photographs.

Fliers were available offering security tips and ideas for coping with stress. People also were there to register volunteers to help search various parts of the county for Danielle.