CBI introduces updates to Amber Alert notification system
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is changing how they issue Amber Alerts.
Starting Monday, the Wireless Emergency Alert system, which sends the cell phone notifications, will now include a URL link where additional details and images will be made available to the public.
"It will bring you to a full copy of our bulletin that we send out to our law enforcement and media partners that has information about the abduction, more descriptive information about the victim and potential suspects involved, the vehicles, any photos," CBI Amber Alert Coordinator, Jillian Ganley said.
According to the bureau, this new system is a big improvement to their alerts, which have been severely limited to 360-characters or less.
A test of the new system was performed Monday at 11 a.m., but only to mobile devices that have enabled test alerts.
"That's probably one of our biggest challenges, that we can't possibly get as much information out as we would like to in a timely manner."
The goal is to boost response from the public early on in the search when it's the most crucial.
In the last year alone, at least 87 children nationwide were rescued due to the alerts, according to data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
"The first few minutes and hours of any situation in these critical incidents are the most important. The longer that you go without finding that missing child, the more likely that it is that we're going to have an unhappy outcome," Cañon City Police Department Commander Tim Walsh said.
Walsh said the new alerts should also help cut down on the number of calls law enforcement receive of vague or inaccurate tips.
"In general we get very good responses from the public about Amber Alerts or anything similar. People really do want to help out and take care of these situations."
According to CBI, the following criteria must be met prior to the activation of an AMBER Alert:
- The abducted child must be 17 years of age or younger,
- The abducted child must be in immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death,
- There must be enough descriptive information available to believe a broadcast will assist or aid in the recovery,
- The activation must be requested by a local law enforcement agency or AMBER Designee from another state.
To learn more, visit the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Twitter or website.
