Utah’s AMBER Alert and Utah’s AMBER Alert and Endangered Person Endangered Person AdvisoryAdvisory

Baseline InquiryBaseline Inquiry

IntroductionIntroduction

Background AMBER Alert plans Criteria Activation Endangered Person Advisory

BackgroundBackground

Utah adopted the AMBER plan April 2, Utah adopted the AMBER plan April 2, 20022002

Known as Rachael AlertKnown as Rachael Alert Utah 5Utah 5thth state to adopt statewide plan state to adopt statewide plan First Rachael Alert June 5, 2002First Rachael Alert June 5, 2002

RachaelRachael

Rachael Marie Runyan was abducted Rachael Marie Runyan was abducted from Sunset, Utah on August 26, 1982 from Sunset, Utah on August 26, 1982 while playing with her two brothers at while playing with her two brothers at a parka park

Rachael's body was found 24 days Rachael's body was found 24 days later in Weber Canyon later in Weber Canyon

Abduction and murder remain Abduction and murder remain unsolvedunsolved

Background con’tBackground con’t

1 year after Rachael Alert was 1 year after Rachael Alert was adopted, name changed to AMBER adopted, name changed to AMBER AlertAlert

Utah citizens could identify child Utah citizens could identify child abduction alert by AMBER Alertabduction alert by AMBER Alert

Background con’tBackground con’t

Utah is the only state that lets law Utah is the only state that lets law enforcement initiate an AMBER Alert enforcement initiate an AMBER Alert without other authorizationwithout other authorization

First AMBER Alert PlanFirst AMBER Alert Plan

First AMBER Alert created in 1996 in First AMBER Alert created in 1996 in Arlington, TexasArlington, Texas

9 year old Amber Hagerman abducted 9 year old Amber Hagerman abducted while riding her bikewhile riding her bike

Brutally murdered and the case Brutally murdered and the case remains unsolvedremains unsolved

Citizens and broadcasters outraged Citizens and broadcasters outraged and wanted to do somethingand wanted to do something

NationwideNationwide

Total Plans Nationwide -120Total Plans Nationwide -120 Statewide Plans -53Statewide Plans -53 Regional Plans -29Regional Plans -29 Local Plans -38Local Plans -38 Texas, Ohio, and Florida have Texas, Ohio, and Florida have

regional, local and statewide Alertregional, local and statewide Alert

NationwideNationwide

No nationwide AMBER planNo nationwide AMBER plan States criteria similarStates criteria similar Some states stricterSome states stricter AMBER plans being adopted in Indian AMBER plans being adopted in Indian

countrycountry

International PlansInternational Plans

GreeceGreece CanadaCanada NetherlandsNetherlands AustraliaAustralia Germany Germany France France UKUK

Utah Public Service Utah Public Service AnnouncementAnnouncement

Criteria for AMBER AlertCriteria for AMBER Alert

Believed to be a child abduction? Child 17 years of age or younger Victim believed to be facing imminent

danger, serious bodily injury or death? Information available to assist in safe

recovery of the victim or location of a suspect or person of interest?

AMBER Alert ProtocolAMBER Alert Protocol

Criteria metCriteria met Law Enforcement AuthorizationLaw Enforcement Authorization Mandatory call to BCIMandatory call to BCI UAAUAA transaction on UCJIS entered by transaction on UCJIS entered by

agency or dispatch centeragency or dispatch center AMBER Alert transmittedAMBER Alert transmitted

BCI and the EAS BCI and the EAS

BCI initiating agency for Emergency Alert System

System notifies all broadcasters in Utah the same as a weather notification would

Highway signs Cell phone, e-mail messages 6,000 plus citizens signed up to

receive Alerts Sign up on BCI’s website

Also ActivatedAlso Activated

BCI’s RoleBCI’s Role

Provide agency supportProvide agency support Help with AMBER entryHelp with AMBER entry Help with NCIC entryHelp with NCIC entry NLETS AMBER Alert regionally or NLETS AMBER Alert regionally or

NationwideNationwide

UTAH AMBER ALERT ACTIVATEDABDUCTION DATE/TIME/LOC: 08242007 1109 200 WEST

VEHICLE/ COLOR/TAN-GRY STATE/UT YEAR/1990 MAKE/FORD TYPE/4DOTHER VEHICLE IDENTIFIERS/DENT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, TEMP TAGSUSPECT/ NAME/WHEELWRIGHT,JULIA JASMINE DOB/01271982 AGE/25HGT/504 WGT/110 HAIR/BRO EYE/BRO SEX/F RACE/ICLOTHING/UNK CLOTHING OTHER IDENTIFIERS/JASMINE TATTOO ACROSS BACK OF NECK, JASMINE ANDMARK TATTOO ON ANKLE VICTIM/SPENS,JASMINE MONIQUE DOB/06162002 AGE/5 HGT/309 WGT/060 HAIR/BRO EYE/HAZ SEX/F RACE/W CLOTHING/WHITE POLO SHIRT WITH UNK TYPE EMBLEM, LIGHT BROWN SHORTS, NO SHOES REMARKS/ 2ND SUSPECT: WATTERS,DONALD LEE 05181980 27 YEARS OLD 510, 180,BLU, BLO CLOTHING: WHITE TANK TOP / POSSIBLE BLACK HOODIETATTOOS: SKULL TATTOO ON RIGHT UPPER ARM.

ORI/UT0150000AGENCY/NSWACDSUBMITTER/KMUNFORDAUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATOR/SHERIFF ERCANBRACKPHONE/8016298221NIC/M136807035

Amber Alert Issued for Amber Alert Issued for Missing 5-Year-Old GirlMissing 5-Year-Old Girl

PolicyPolicy

Every law enforcement agency should have AMBER Alert policy

On-going training and updating Info for first line officers,

administration, dispatch Dispatch centers should always be

included in agency policy!

What is an Endangered What is an Endangered Person Advisory?Person Advisory?

Endangered Person Endangered Person AdvisoryAdvisory Disseminates info to media and law Disseminates info to media and law

enforcementenforcement Missing or endangered persons that do Missing or endangered persons that do

not meet AMBER criterianot meet AMBER criteria

Endangered AdultsEndangered Adults

Abducted clerk from a convenience store

Elderly individual with Alzheimer's

Missing college student

Persons that have wandered away from care facilities

Overdue travelers (weather)

EPA GuidelinesEPA Guidelines

Person is missing– Family believes circumstances are suspicious

Person in danger– Age– Health– Mental Disability– Environment– Weather conditions– Accompanying dangerous person

EPA Guidelines con’tEPA Guidelines con’t

Individuals that don’t meet AMBER Individuals that don’t meet AMBER Alert criteriaAlert criteria

Law enforcement believes missing Law enforcement believes missing person needs immediate media person needs immediate media attentionattention

Law enforcement transmits in-state Law enforcement transmits in-state broadcast with broadcast with EPAEPA transaction transaction

Contact BCI to advise us of Contact BCI to advise us of EPAEPA BCI e-mails Utah mediaBCI e-mails Utah media Media may contact your agency for Media may contact your agency for

more infomore info

EPA ProcessEPA Process

All law enforcement All law enforcement notifiednotified

Media notifiedMedia notified

What Happens with EPA?What Happens with EPA?

Activate EASActivate EAS Use highway signsUse highway signs No BCI reviewsNo BCI reviews Activate cell phones, pagers, e-mailsActivate cell phones, pagers, e-mails

EPA Does Not…EPA Does Not…

SANDY CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, UT0180500

******ENDANGERED PERSON ADVISORY*******USE CAUTION, SUICIDAL/VIOLENT TENENCIESPEACOCK, AUSTIN, M/W, 13 YOA, DOB 03161993, 502/065, BRO/BRO, LSW OFFWHT BUTTONED UP LONG SLEEVE SHIRT, TONY HAWK BRAND, WITH BLU DIAMONDS AND SWIRL PATTERN, BLU JEANS, BLK SOCKS, UNK SHOES WAS JUST RELEASED FROM UNI/PSYCHIATRIC WARD FOR ATTEMPTING SUICIDE WITH A KNIFE/WITH UNK FRIENDS BELIEVED TO POSS BE IN THE SANDY, UTAH AREA NEAR EASTMONT MIDDLE SCHOOLIF LOCATED, PLEASE CONTACT SANDY CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, 801-840-4000-REF SANDY CASE 06E005707

Who would qualify?Who would qualify?

Springville man returns Springville man returns home after missing for home after missing for almost 24 hoursalmost 24 hours

ScenariosScenarios

Scenario 1Scenario 1

A mother reports that her 5-year-oldA mother reports that her 5-year-old

daughter has been abducted by her exdaughter has been abducted by her exhusband and he had threatened to "gohusband and he had threatened to "goout in style" if anyone tried to stop him.out in style" if anyone tried to stop him.

Suspect refused police orders to returnSuspect refused police orders to returnthe girl back home. She has asthma andthe girl back home. She has asthma andis in need of medication for itis in need of medication for it

Issues for DiscussionIssues for Discussion

What are the key issues to be What are the key issues to be considered?considered?

Do you issue an AMBER alert or EPA?Do you issue an AMBER alert or EPA? If not, what actions would you take? If not, what actions would you take?

Scenario 2Scenario 2

An 18 year-old mentally challenged An 18 year-old mentally challenged female is reported missing from her female is reported missing from her care facility. She is believed to be in care facility. She is believed to be in the company of a 68-year-old the company of a 68-year-old registered sex offender. Her case registered sex offender. Her case worker indicated that she has the worker indicated that she has the mental capacity of a 6-year-old mental capacity of a 6-year-old

Issues for DiscussionIssues for Discussion

What are the key issues to be What are the key issues to be considered?considered?

Do you issue an AMBER alert or EPA?Do you issue an AMBER alert or EPA? If not, what actions would you take? If not, what actions would you take?

Scenario 3Scenario 3

A father wakes up at 7:00 a.m. and notices A father wakes up at 7:00 a.m. and notices his 15 year old daughter is missing. She has his 15 year old daughter is missing. She has had a relationship with a violent felon that had a relationship with a violent felon that has family ties in Mexico. He contacts police. has family ties in Mexico. He contacts police. It has now been at least 12 hours. She is It has now been at least 12 hours. She is sending text messages to her sister saying sending text messages to her sister saying she is ok and they are heading to Mexico. she is ok and they are heading to Mexico. Her cell phone is traced in another stateHer cell phone is traced in another state

Issues for DiscussionIssues for Discussion

What are the key issues to be What are the key issues to be considered?considered?

Do you issue an AMBER alert or EPA?Do you issue an AMBER alert or EPA? If not, what actions would you take? If not, what actions would you take?

Federal LawsFederal Laws

Protect Act 2003Protect Act 2003 Mandatory entry into NCIC Mandatory entry into NCIC withinwithin 2 2

hours of being reportedhours of being reported No agency can remove a No agency can remove a missing missing

personperson from NCIC no matter the age if from NCIC no matter the age if they have not been locatedthey have not been located

Federal Laws (con’t)Federal Laws (con’t)

Adam Walsh Child Protection Safety Act Adam Walsh Child Protection Safety Act of 2006 (amended the protect Act)of 2006 (amended the protect Act)

Suzanne’s Law (Mandatory entry into Suzanne’s Law (Mandatory entry into NCIC under age of 21)NCIC under age of 21)

Additional InformationAdditional Information

Utah Missing Person ClearinghouseUtah Missing Person Clearinghouse– Gina McNeilGina McNeil– 801-965-4686801-965-4686– 801-652-6287801-652-6287– gmcneil@utah.govgmcneil@utah.gov

www.amberalert.govwww.amberalert.gov http://publicsafety.utah.gov/bci/http://publicsafety.utah.gov/bci/

Additional InformationAdditional Information

Additional information can be found on Additional information can be found on these websites or contact Gina McNeil these websites or contact Gina McNeil Utah Missing Persons Clearinghouse Utah Missing Persons Clearinghouse gmcneil@utah.govgmcneil@utah.gov(801) 965-4686 or (801) 652-6287(801) 965-4686 or (801) 652-6287

www.amberalert.govwww.amberalert.gov http://publicsafety.utah.gov/bcihttp://publicsafety.utah.gov/bci