Current Wyoming Amber Alert Plan:
The Wyoming AMBER Alert plan was implemented on January 26, 2004. Within thirty-six hours of the plan being put into place, an Amber Alert was initiated at the request of Utah officials. Nearly fours hours later, the abducted child was located unharmed and the abductor arrested in Rawlins, Wyoming.
The Wyoming AMBER Plan is a cooperative effort between law-enforcement agencies, Wyoming Association of Broadcasters, Wyoming Department of Transportation and the National Weather Service to activate an urgent bulletin in the most serious child-abduction cases. Broadcasters air a description of the abducted child and suspected abductor via radio and television and capable electronic highway signs display a description of abductor vehicle information. The goal of the AMBER Alert is to instantly inform the entire community so that citizens may assist in the search for the abducted child.
Once the criteria for an Amber Alert is met, concise information is put together for distribution to the public, via the local media. The information is further distributed through group fax and group e-mail and may include descriptions and pictures of the missing child, the suspected abductor, a suspected vehicle, direction of travel, etc. Under the plan, local law enforcement makes the determination that the missing child meets the criteria for an Amber Alert and faxes information to the Division for review. The information is then sent to the Cheyenne office of the National Weather Service for distribution via the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and posted to those electronic highways signs capable of displaying relevant information.
How Does The AMBER Plan Work?
Each state or local program establishes its own AMBER Plan criteria; however, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children suggests the following criteria should be met before an Alert is activated:
Law enforcement confirms a child has been abducted.
A child is considered seventeen years old or younger.
Law enforcement will only activate an Amber Alert if it is believed the circumstances surrounding the abduction indicate that the child is in danger of serious bodily harm or death.
There is enough descriptive information about the child, abductor, and/or suspect's vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast alert will help in the safe return of the child.
What Should You Do In Case Of An AMBER Alert?
The AMBER Alert message encourages the public to look for the missing child or suspect. You become the ears and eyes of local law enforcement.
In the event that you spot a child, adult, or vehicle fitting the AMBER Alert description, immediately call the telephone number given in the AMBER Alert and provide authorities with as much information as you know.
The goal of Amber Alert is the safe return of the child.
Contact Information:
Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation
(307) 777-7181
Email: amberalert@dci.wyo.gov
What you should know:
- Active Amber Alerts
- If your child is missing
- Child Safety Tips To Prevent Abductions
- Basic Rules Of Safety For Children
- Parent Record keeping
Related Links:
Federal Bureau Of
Investigation (FBI)
Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA)
National Center For
Missing and Exploited
Children (NCMEC)
