Fun Facts about McGruff the Crime Dog Did you know…
McGruff walked alongside the New York City Police Department contingent in the 2004 Macy‟s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Four months later McGruff has marched in the Washington, DC, St. Patrick‟s Day Parade McGruff is recognized by 93% of children who agree that "McGruff helps me to be safer." McGruff has his own baseball cards, staring famous baseball players Derek Jeter, Nomar Garciaparra, Sammy Sosa, and Albert Pujols. McGruff‟s first PSA aired in 1980. Visit McGruff at www.ncpc.org to see his latest campaigns. McGruff‟s PSA about child abduction, entitled “Jenny” appeared in the 1984 episode “I Love the „80s Strikes Back” on VH1. On July 1st, 1980 John Isbell of the New Orleans PD wins the naming-contest. The runner-up name was “Shurlocked Homes.” Commemorative McGruff Stamps are introduced by the U.S. Postal Service in 1984. McGruff appeared on a special episode of ABC‟s popular “Webster” TV series, giving Webster and his classmates‟ advice on coping with bullies and reducing school vandalism and theft. Watched by 22 million people, the show achieved the #1 rating for its timeslot. McGruff‟s nephew, Scruff, is introduced in 1993 to help McGruff teach younger children how to handle dangerous issues and situations. Don Graf y su sobrino Escraf (McGruff and Scruff) have been used in Chile, Panama, and Dominican Republic and other Latin American countries since 1997 The military widely uses McGruff in its crime prevention efforts and almost every post or base has a McGruff costume and supporting material.