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| The High Tech Milk Carton... |
April 11, 2001 |
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U.S. Representative Heather Wilson visits with students at an Albuquerque elementary school
Wilson spearheads child abduction alert program
“Amber Alert”
Radio and television stations are about to use their collective power to help abducted children in Albuquerque. Congresswoman Heather Wilson today joined local law enforcement officials and New Mexico television and radio broadcasters to announce the partnership.
“This partnership between broadcasters and law enforcement will create a huge neighborhood watch program,” said Wilson. Last October the federal lawmaker passed a resolution on the House floor urging communities around the country to implement the Amber Alert. Since passage of Wilson’s resolution, Wilson and her staff have been laying the groundwork in New Mexico for implementation of the plan.
“This partnership between broadcasters and law enforcement will create a huge neighborhood watch program,” said Wilson.
View a local TV news story about the "Amber Alert"
The program — called "Amber Alert" in remembrance of murdered Texas child Amber Hagerman — will allow authorities to cut into broadcasts to issue alerts. It`s based on a model from Arlington, Texas that is in use elsewhere in that state, as well as Michigan, Oklahoma, and California. Once implemented, law enforcement will have the ability to take advantage of the existing broadcast network known as the “Emergency Alert System” in cases where a child is abducted by a stranger and believed to be in immediate danger, and the police have some description to look for.
EYES AND EARS
“We know from tragic experience that when a child is kidnapped, every second counts. Once those familiar emergency tones go out over New Mexico airwaves, hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans will hear information that could save a child’s life. It will mobilize the eyes and ears of every person listening to a radio or watching a television,” said Wilson of the Amber Plan’s potential effectiveness as an added tool for New Mexico law enforcement.
“I think that the Albuquerque Police Department, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department, and radio and television stations deserve a lot of credit for their willingness to work together and implement the Amber Plan,” says the federal lawmaker.
When police believe that a child has been abducted by a stranger, they will notify the local station designated to activate the federal Emergency Alert System, which will in turn issue Amber Alerts to all other participating media outlets.
A description of the missing child, the abductor (if it is available), any vehicle involved, and other key information could be disseminated to hundreds of thousands of people within minutes of the abduction, greatly increasing the chances the child will be found alive. Cases of runaways and intrafamilial or custodial abductions will not generally activate the system.
A COMMITMENT TO SERVICE
The New Mexico Broadcasters Association (NMBA) serves as a liaison for the broadcast community with state and federal government and people concerned with the broadcast industry.
Mary Ellen Merrigan spoke on behalf of the Albuquerque Radio Broadcasters Association and says radio can be a powerful tool for law enforcement. “We know that at least 98% of people in their cars listen to the radio. The advantage of the Amber Alert is that it’s instant and can, without delay, mobilize an entire community as an extension to law enforcement. That’s powerful. I commend Congresswoman Wilson and New Mexico law enforcement and broadcasters for their foresight in implementing the Amber Alert.”
Eric Steffens is the President of the Albuquerque Television Broadcasters Association and he agrees that this is a public service that could save a life. “Radio and television stations in New Mexico make a very serious commitment to public service. We saw the power of television in mobilizing this entire state during last year’s Cerro Grande fire. There’s no doubt this is another thing we can do as responsible broadcasters to contribute to New Mexico and potentially save a life.”
“I hope we never have to use the Amber Alert. I think every parent will certainly tell you that,” said Chief Jerry Galvin of the Albuquerque Police Department. “But the reality is, it can happen. We want to be able to respond with every single resource we have available to us, and the Amber Alert will allow us to instantly mobilize radio listeners and TV viewers like never before. That’s community policing at it’s best.”
Bernalillo County Sheriff Joe Bowdich agrees. “When a child is abducted, every second counts. I can’t tell you what a difference it makes to enlist the help of our entire community. I hope we’ll never have to activate this abduction alert. But if we do, it could make the difference in recovering a child alive.” |
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