Governor Granholm Announces New Partnership to Protect Michigan's Children
Contact:
Heidi Hansen 517-335-6397
October 26, 2005
LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that Michigan has partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to provide text messages to wireless phone subscribers in Michigan when an AMBER Alert is issued in their area. This new tool will allow all citizens to aid in the protection of Michigan’s children.
“A missing child is every parent’s worst nightmare,” said Granholm. “I am pleased to announce this new partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which will allow Michigan citizens to use the advances of modern technology to help protect our children.”
The Governor encouraged wireless phone customers in Michigan to visit www.wirelessamberalerts.org to sign up for the new free service. Persons who sign up for the wireless AMBER Alert will receive a text message whenever an AMBER Alert is issued in their geographic area. The text message will provide the same information contained in emergency broadcasts, including the child’s description.
“The statistics are clear. Abducted children who are harmed are usually harmed within the first three hours,” said Colonel Tadarial J. Sturdivant, director of the Michigan State Police. “The more people who quickly receive information about a missing child, the more likely we are to recover that child safely.”
AMBER Alert is a partnership between law enforcement and media outlets to immediately disseminate information when law enforcement has determined that a child has been abducted or is in imminent danger. The AMBER Alert program began in 1996 when Dallas area broadcasters teamed with local police to aid in the search for an abducted nine-year-old girl. Since then, all 50 states have developed AMBER Alert systems. Michigan’s AMBER Alert plan is credited with the safe recovery of more than 100 children.
Amber Alert of Michigan partners include the Michigan Department of State Police, Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Michigan Department of Transportation, Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, and SBC.
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