National missing persons alert program

Tuesday, 28 July 2009
OKLAHOMA CITY-- The Oklahoma Attorney General issued the following news release:

Attorney General Drew Edmondson was in Claremore today to help launch local law enforcement participation in a national missing persons alert program.

The program, A Child is Missing, helps law enforcement agencies locate missing children, college students and missing persons who are elderly or mentally or physically challenged.

Using sophisticated computer mapping systems and specially trained staff, the non-profit organization can place 1,000 telephone calls within one minute to residents and businesses in a target area around a reported missing person.

The calls provide critical, incident-specific information to engage the community to help find the missing person.

"The first minutes are critical to finding a missing person," Edmondson. "Whether a missing child or elderly person with Alzheimer's, this program will help Oklahoma officers protect the vulnerable among us."

As part of today's launch, a training session is being conducted to teach law enforcement personnel how the system works and how it can be of assistance.  The service is free to law enforcement agencies and operates in conjunction with the Amber Alert system.

"I know how important it is to quickly employ every available resource in a missing persons case," Edmondson said.  "This programs gives us another tool to help law enforcement safely reunite Oklahoma families."

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 28 July 2009 )