(Published Saturday, August 4, 2007 10:11:25 PM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
JANESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: AMBER ALERT GUIDELINES
ISSUED: 4/29/03
EFFECTIVE: ½2/03
SCOPE: All Police Personnel
REFERENCE:
The purpose of this Standard Operating Procedure is to provide guidelines for all personnel on the purpose, use, and procedures for Amber Alert activation.
This Standard Operating Procedure consists of the following numbered sections:
I. DEFINITIONS
II. ACTIVATION CRITERIA
III. PROCEDURES
IV. NOTIFICATIONS
V. LOCATER SYSTEM
I. DEFINITIONS
A. ABDUCTED CHILD: A child 17 years of age or younger who has been unwillingly removed from his/her environment without permission from the child's legal guardian or designated legal representative.
B. AMBER ALERT: A collaborative partnership between law enforcement agencies and broadcasters to alert the general public when a child is missing/abducted.
1. Radio and television stations interrupt programming with an emergency tone similar to the one used to warn about severe weather conditions utilizing the Emergency Alert System (E.A.S.);
2. The Emergency Alert System provides a rapid response in the search of a missing/abducted child. When a warning is activated, the entire community or the entire state is searching for a missing child in a matter of minutes;
3. The Amber Alert warning system will hopefully be a deterrent for would-be abductors or otherwise coerce the abductor into releasing the child for fear of being apprehended.
II. ACTIVATION CRITERIA
A. The following criteria must be satisfied for Amber Alert activation:
1. The child is 17 years of age or younger.
2. The child is in danger of serious bodily harm or death.
3. There is enough descriptive information about the child, the suspect(s) and/or the suspect vehicle(s) to believe an immediate broadcast alert will help locate the child.
III. PROCEDURES
A. The investigating officer who has reason to believe a child is abducted will verify the details with the shift supervisor.
B. The shift supervisor will determine if the Amber Alert activation criteria have been met.
C. If Amber Alert criteria are satisfied, complete the Amber Alert Child Abduction Notification Form (Form #1), Victim Form (#2), Suspect Form (#3), Vehicle Form (#4), and Broadcast Script Form (#5). All forms are available as Word documents under the Amber Alert tab.
D. An Amber Alert must be requested by the law enforcement agency of jurisdiction. The shift supervisor will:
1. Ensure that the missing child is entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.
2. Designate a 24-hour telephone number, e-mail address and fax number for the public and the media. A media liaison will be designated, who will coordinate information, interviews and send out a press release.
Local Number: 758-8477 (758-TIPS)
Toll Free Number: 1-877-262-3772 (1-877-AMBER RC)
3. Determine if the alert will be broadcast regionally or statewide and complete the Emergency Missing Child Alert Form.
4. Telephone the Dane County Public Safety Communications Center to request Amber Alert activation. (608-267-3913)
5. Electronically send or fax the Amber Alert Child Abduction Notification Form (and a photo of the child, if available) to the Dane County Public Safety Communications Center at dane911@co.dane.wi.us or Fax 608-266-9861. This form requires the signature of the senior supervising officer on duty.
E. As time permits, obtain written parent/guardian consent to release the name and photo of the abducted child on the Wisconsin Amber Alert Release Form.
F. The Dane County Public Safety Communications Center shift commander supervisor will confirm the accuracy of the information provided and will verify that all criteria for Amber Alert activation criteria have been satisfied.
G. The Dane County Public Safety Communications Center shift commander supervisor will review the script and send the Amber Alert via the Emergency Alert System unit located in the communications center. This alert will interrupt broadcasting with a tone alert.
H. The Emergency Alert System will broadcast the information every 30 minutes for the first two hours, then once an hour for the next three hours.
I. The Dane County Public Safety Communications Center will issue a regional or statewide NLETS message to law enforcement agencies through the TIME system regarding the activation of the Amber Alert.
J. Notify the Rock County Communications Center of the Amber Alert Activation, and the likelihood of high call volume coming in on the above telephone numbers. Assign a patrol officer or investigator to report to the Rock County Communications Center to begin call screening.
IV. NOTIFICATIONS
A. In the event an incident meets the criteria for an Amber Alert, after the above procedure has been completed, the shift supervisor shall make the following notifications:
1. The Investigation Division Lieutenant or Sergeant
2. The Chief of Police
3. The Deputy Chief of Investigations
4. The Deputy Chief of Patrol
B. The shift supervisor or supervisor of investigations will also make the following contacts:
1. The Federal Bureau of Investigation-Madison office 608-833-4600.
C. The shift supervisor or investigation supervisor shall contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to report information regarding the missing/abducted child or for additional resources and services.
1. NCMEC 24-HOUR HOTLINE: 1-800-THE-LOST
1-800-843-5678
D. The shift supervisor can also contact the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Missing and Exploited Children for additional resources and services.
1. WISCONSIN CLEARINGHOUSE: 1-800-THE-HOPE
1-800-843-4673
2. E-MAIL ADDRESS: wimissingchild@doj.state.wi.us
E. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children can provide the following additional assistance:
1. Technical case assistance.
2. Age enhancement, facial reconstruction, and image/identification services.
3. Informational analysis services.
4. Queries and database searches.
5. 24-hour, toll-free hotline and cybertipline.
V. LOCATER SYSTEM
A. Investigating officers should obtain a current photograph of the missing child and deliver it to the Investigation Division. Personnel trained in the use of the Locater System will develop a missing child poster and disseminate as appropriate.
