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01-14-2009, 04:57 AM
http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?S=9667632&nav=menu486_2_1<<Back (http://javascript<b></b>: goBack())http://kwch.images.worldnow.com/images/static/hdr/hdr_607x37.gifAn Alternative to Amber Alert
Posted: Jan 13, 2009 05:29 PM EST
Updated: Jan 13, 2009 06:25 PM EST
http://kwch.images.worldnow.com/images/188943_G.jpgBy Alana Rocha
(ROSE HILL, Kan.)
Roughly 1.6 million kids run away each year. The majority of cases don't fit the criteria for authorities to issue an Amber Alert.
So departments across the state are now learning how to use an alternative system.
Police and fire units, K-9s, even officers on horseback filled a south Wichita apartment complex in September, searching for any sign of Gregory Ransom.
Ransom, 10, disappeared after a family argument. Investigators could not issue an Amber Alert to help find him. They couldn't be sure the young boy was in danger.
"The majority of your missing children cases do not fit the Amber criteria," Kent Bauman said. Bauman is an instructor for the 'A Child is Missing Alert' program.
Nearly 60 law enforcement departments across the state are learning how and when to use an alternative alert system - to find both children and adults. Tuesday the training centered in Butler County.
Each agency sets its own criteria when to call the 'A Child is Missing Alert' program.
A dispatcher at the Florida-based non-profit takes the information and maps out an area to call - at a rate of a thousand calls a minute.
Bauman says, "Runaways are a large category of missing children across the United States."
A recording tells homeowners and businesses the person's name, description, location and asks them to look around outside.
"This gets the public and the community involved. You don't have to have the KBI's approval to use it," Bauman said.
Wichita Police used 'A Child is Missing Alert' program to find the boy. An employee at the Wal-mart off Kellogg and Greenwich took the call, noticed the boy playing video games and called police.
Bauman says, "Saved us a lot of time because we had been searching all night. And also helped relieve the parents because a child is back home."
Coleen Haehn is a counselor at Rose Hill High. She attended Tuesday's training. "It's a good system. Was not aware it's enforced in this area."
Trainee and Butler County Deputy Phil Wickwire says, "It can free our people up to do more of the things that they're doing." And give families peace of mind.
'A Child is Missing Alert' program has helped find 435 people since it started in 1997. It is free for agencies to sign up and use. Donations and federal funding make it possible.
Agency Program Sign Up (http://www.achildismissing.org/sign.asp)
'A Child is Missing Alert' system can be used with an Amber Alert. When a child goes missing and the state does not issue an Amber Alert, many people question why.
Monday marks Amber Alert Day. In recognition, Kansas Attorney General Steve Six released two public service announcements explaining the process.
We are running it on KWCH Channel 12. You can also find it by following the links above.
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Posted: Jan 13, 2009 05:29 PM EST
Updated: Jan 13, 2009 06:25 PM EST
http://kwch.images.worldnow.com/images/188943_G.jpgBy Alana Rocha
(ROSE HILL, Kan.)
Roughly 1.6 million kids run away each year. The majority of cases don't fit the criteria for authorities to issue an Amber Alert.
So departments across the state are now learning how to use an alternative system.
Police and fire units, K-9s, even officers on horseback filled a south Wichita apartment complex in September, searching for any sign of Gregory Ransom.
Ransom, 10, disappeared after a family argument. Investigators could not issue an Amber Alert to help find him. They couldn't be sure the young boy was in danger.
"The majority of your missing children cases do not fit the Amber criteria," Kent Bauman said. Bauman is an instructor for the 'A Child is Missing Alert' program.
Nearly 60 law enforcement departments across the state are learning how and when to use an alternative alert system - to find both children and adults. Tuesday the training centered in Butler County.
Each agency sets its own criteria when to call the 'A Child is Missing Alert' program.
A dispatcher at the Florida-based non-profit takes the information and maps out an area to call - at a rate of a thousand calls a minute.
Bauman says, "Runaways are a large category of missing children across the United States."
A recording tells homeowners and businesses the person's name, description, location and asks them to look around outside.
"This gets the public and the community involved. You don't have to have the KBI's approval to use it," Bauman said.
Wichita Police used 'A Child is Missing Alert' program to find the boy. An employee at the Wal-mart off Kellogg and Greenwich took the call, noticed the boy playing video games and called police.
Bauman says, "Saved us a lot of time because we had been searching all night. And also helped relieve the parents because a child is back home."
Coleen Haehn is a counselor at Rose Hill High. She attended Tuesday's training. "It's a good system. Was not aware it's enforced in this area."
Trainee and Butler County Deputy Phil Wickwire says, "It can free our people up to do more of the things that they're doing." And give families peace of mind.
'A Child is Missing Alert' program has helped find 435 people since it started in 1997. It is free for agencies to sign up and use. Donations and federal funding make it possible.
Agency Program Sign Up (http://www.achildismissing.org/sign.asp)
'A Child is Missing Alert' system can be used with an Amber Alert. When a child goes missing and the state does not issue an Amber Alert, many people question why.
Monday marks Amber Alert Day. In recognition, Kansas Attorney General Steve Six released two public service announcements explaining the process.
We are running it on KWCH Channel 12. You can also find it by following the links above.
http://kwch.images.worldnow.com/images/static/gfx/wn_powerby_printable.gif (http://www.worldnow.com/)All content © Copyright 2000 - 2009 WorldNow and Sunflower Broadcasting, Inc.. All Rights Reserved.
For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy (http://www.kwch.com/global/story.asp?s=18990) and Terms of Service (http://www.kwch.com/global/story.asp?s=18991).
http://www.kwch.com/images/static/gfx/pxl_trans.gif