06-24-2002 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

JUwtitotMrIi II »»pet\NG JON 2 4 2002 Attention; Chief Law Enforcement Officers From; Michael Campion, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on Y Uh ORONO The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner's Office, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), Division of Emergency Management, Minnesota Broadcasters' Association and the Jacob Wetterling Foundation are pleased to announce a new tool soon to be available to all Minnesota Law Enforcement Agencies. This new tool, called the Amber Alert Plan, is an initiative aimed at helping police quickly locate abducted children under the age of 17 whom the investigative agency believes to be in great danger. Utilizing the state's Emergency Alert System (EAS) and the Minnesota Crime Alert Network (MCAN), the Amber Alert is an early-warning network that law enforcement can use to quickly convey key information to the general public via television and radio soon after a child has been abducted. The Amber Plan was created in 1996 in the Dallas-Fort Worth region after the murder of Amber Hagerman, a nine-year-old girl who was abducted from her home. Since its creation, the alert system in that metropolitan area has been credited with the safe recovery of at least five children. There are at least 35 other states utilizing the Amber Alert Plan. *A crime as horrific as abducting a child calls for dramatic measures for law enforcement. The Amber Alert promises to be a powerful tool in the battle against child abductions,* said Charlie Weaver, Minnesota Commissioner of Puolic Safety. Weaver points out that MCAN has assisted in the safe recovery of ten missing persons over the past two years. MCAN is well known to local law enforcement for its assistance in solving a variety of crimes throughout Minnesota Since 2001 . over 60 success stories can be attributed to the alerts generated by MCAN Now this innovative system will deliver the Amber Alert information to all participating teievision and radio stations, law enforcement and businesses that are members of MCAN When a law enforcement agency has a case involving an abducted cnild who meets tne Amber Alert criteria, they will follow the operating procedures of notifying the BCA. The BCA will work with the investigating agency to gather the pertinent information and will then activate the Amber Alert through MCAN and EAS. Once broadcasters receive the alert they will be asked to broadcast it once every 15 minutes for the first two hours and once every half-hour for the next three hours The Amber Alert will also be posted on the MCAN website where the public may view alert information and provide leads. Abduction cases that do not n r-^t the Amber Alert criteria, but could benefit from the public's assistance, will be sent through MCAN where the media will broadcast the information at their discretion. Minnesota is fortunate to have this unique tool, which is not offered in any other state, to work with the public to request assistance in resolving cnmes. The enclosed Amber Alert Kit is provided by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The kit contains a video that explains the Amber Alert Plan and walks through a child abduction scenario utilizing the Amber Alert Plan I encourage you to use this video to educate your department on this program. In addition to this kit, the BCA will be distributing Abduction Response cards to every officer in the state to place in their squad cars. A press conference announcing the Amber Alert Plan will take place on Thursday, June 13*^ at 11 ;00 a.m. and a live test of the Amber Alert will occur at 1 ;45 p.m. that afternoon. You may also find details of the Amber Alert Plan, including criteria, standard operating procedures and sample alerts on the MCAN website at: www crimealert state mn us. If you have questions, or would like more information regarding the Amber Alert Plan, please contact Janell Rasmussen at (651) 642-0779