OFFICE OF GOVERNOR DAVE FREUDENTHAL
State Capitol
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Ph. 307.777.7434

JANUARY 23, 2004

******FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE******

Contact: Press Secretary Lara Azar
Office 307.777.7437
Cell 307.421.0197

Contact: DCI Deputy Director Kebin Haller
Office 307.777.6612

STATE’S AMBER ALERT SYSTEM UP AND RUNNING

CHEYENNE, Wyo.  Wyoming’s Amber Alert system is up and running.

The Amber Alert is a cooperative effort between law enforcement agencies and broadcasters to activate an urgent bulletin in the most serious child abduction cases. Broadcasters use the Emergency Alert System (EAS) to air a description of the missing child and suspected abductor.

“Every little bit of help law enforcement can get to find a missing child is incredibly valuable,” Gov. Dave Freudenthal said. “A successful Amber Alert can literally make the difference between life and death for that child. I am thankful that Wyoming now has such a power weapon in its arsenal.”

The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is the central point of contact for Wyoming law enforcement agencies seeking to initiate an Amber Alert. The information is then relayed to the public through the National Weather Service (NWS), using the Emergency Alert System and in cooperation with the Wyoming Association of Broadcasters, Wyoming Cable Television Association and the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s electronic highway signs.

As the central registry for missing persons in the state of Wyoming, DCI is in direct contact with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Local law enforcement agencies maintain their investigative responsibilities. Any alert would require leads be relayed to the agency of jurisdiction.

“Our primary goal is the safe recovery of an abducted child”, said DCI Director Kurt Dobbs. “This plan was only possible through the cooperative efforts of Wyoming Law Enforcement, Wyoming NWS, Wyoming Association of Broadcasters, Wyoming Cable TV Association and the Wyoming Department of Transportation.”

The following criteria must be met to issue an Amber Alert in Wyoming:

1. Confirmation by a law enforcement agency that a child has been abducted.

2. The abducted child is 18 years of age or younger.

3. Circumstances surrounding the abduction indicate that the child is in danger of serious bodily harm or death.

4. Sufficient descriptive information exists about the child, the abductor, and/or the suspect's vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast alert will help.

If these criteria are met, concise information is put together for public distribution. The information may include descriptions and pictures of the missing child, the suspected abductor and a suspected vehicle, for example. Local law enforcement makes the determination that the missing child meets the criteria for an Amber Alert and faxes information to the DCI for review.

If all criteria are met, DCI then forwards the information to the Cheyenne National Weather Service office via fax or the Emergency Alert System decoder system. The Amber Alert would then be broadcast to member EAS sites for dissemination to the public. If vehicle information is available, the Wyoming Department of Transportation would be contacted to initiate an alert message on the electronic highway signs where available around the state.

A request to deactivate an Amber Alert would proceed in the same manner as the request. Upon notification to DCI from the local law enforcement agency, the division would initiate a cancellation of the alert with both the National Weather Service and WyDOT.

Wyoming is working closely with the five surrounding states in the Amber Alert plan. Wyoming has agreed to initiate an Amber Alert on behalf of Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Montana and South Dakota, if the given state has already issued its alert. These same five states have agreed to reciprocate should Wyoming issue an alert.

The goal of the Amber Alert is to instantly inform the entire community so that citizens may assist in the search for the missing child. The Amber Alert began in 1996 following the kidnapping and murder of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman in Texas. Outraged residents contacted radio stations in the Dallas area and suggested they broadcast special “alerts” over the airwaves to help prevent such incidents in the future.

As a result of the incident, the Dallas/Fort Worth Association of Radio Managers teamed up with local law enforcement agencies in northern Texas and developed this innovative early warning system to help find abducted children.

Currently, North Carolina, Alaska and the islands of Hawaii, remain the areas without an Amber Alert Plan.

The Wyoming Amber Alert Plan has only been possible due to the cooperative efforts of the Amber Alert Advisory Group. The Wyoming Amber Advisory Group includes the National Weather Service, Wyoming Association of Broadcasters, Wyoming Sheriffs and Chiefs Association, Wyoming Emergency Management Agency, Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.