DEWITT -- Every 40 seconds a child is reported missing in the United States, an alarming rate for local communities. With the help of such programs as Amber Alerts and your local police agencies, the public can now be notified more quickly then ever. Now there is another agency you can add to that list, the “A Child is Missing” alert program. It is a nationwide non-profit organization that works in conjunction with the programs already in place.
The program uses phone calls to alert people living in the area of where a child is reported missing. They can make 1000 phone calls in just 60 seconds. While the program is called “A Child is Missing”, they also alert people when college students, elderly, disabled and teenagers disappear.
When a call comes in saying someone is missing, local law enforcement takes the proper steps including interviews, an area canvas, and calling the missing alert programs. An “A Child is Missing Alert” will only go out when a police officer puts in the call. Family members, friends, or anyone else can not call in a missing person to the system. Once the alert system is notified, several calls are placed with a description of who is missing, where they were last seen, and asking you to check your area. In the future they are looking to add a text messaging service to their alerts.
The program is free to law enforcement agencies and has saved more than 430 people since they started in 1997. Today several agencies from Central New York took part in the short informational training session. One of the program creators says the phone service can be up and running in 15 minuets.
The DeWitt Police Department says they will start using it right away. The Police Chief was excited to see more than 100 people attending the meeting and taking part.
Adding the “A Child is Missing” alert to the tool belt of law enforcement can only benefit our communities.
