Alert Plan Praised in Rescue of Girls
Aug. 2, 2002 -- Two teenage California girls who were kidnapped at gunpoint Thursday owe part of their rescue to AMBER.
AMBER stands for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response. But it also represents the legacy of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped from an Arlington, Texas, street in 1996 and found slain in a drainage ditch four days later.
California authorities triggered AMBER alerts soon after the two girls were taken at gunpoint early Thursday morning. The alerts were hard to miss.
Radio and television stations offered frequent updates. Flashing messages showed up on freeway signs, giving the motorists the license plate and description of the Ford Bronco that the assailant stole in the kidnapping.
"It was great," said Los Angeles County Assistant Sheriff Larry Waldie. "We just got the system last week and it sent out bulletins over the radio and television right away. We had people working on the case right away, from 2 in the morning, and because of the system, two girls are safe. It's fantastic."
Enlisting the Public
Officials say because it was their first time using the alert system , they faced some complications that caused a delay in getting the message out. But despite the delay, they say the system was effective.
"As far as I'm concerned, it worked just the way it was supposed to work," said Michael Soderbergh, Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's chief of detectives. "The planets were aligned correctly on this one. It worked marvelously. … I honestly believe it could not have worked any better."
California State Assemblyman George Runner said legislators are working to pass legislation to improve the system, and make it easier for law enforcement to disseminate the information.
The alert messages may have been the reason why an animal control officer was able to recognize the Bronco with the two kidnapped girls inside and contact authorities. The California Highway Patrol tracked the car and officers eventually killed the kidnapping suspect.
Many believe the safe return of the girls was possible because the AMBER system helped to get the entire public involved in the search.
"What's critical is getting that information out to the public," said Hallye Jordon, press secretary of California's attorney general. "If you can enlist the help of the public in California, that adds 34 million pairs of eyes out there."
The alert system had been operating in Orange County since 1999 but just recently was extended statewide.
Officials from the Orange County Sheriff's Department are crediting the public's help through the system for the apprehension of Alejandro Avila, who is accused of kidnapping and murdering 5-year-old Samantha Runion last month.
How Does AMBER Work?
The system works through a partnership between law enforcement and the media. When law enforcement officials are notified that a child has been abducted, it is their responsibility to determine if the case meets the criteria set by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The abduction must be confirmed, the child must be in danger of serious harm or death, and there must be enough descriptive evidence available about the child and the abductor. If the case meets the criteria, the information is faxed to primary radio stations designated by the Emergency Alert System, and then sent to local radio and television stations for immediate broadcast.
There are 41 AMBER plans operating throughout the nation, including state, local, and regional plans. The system is credited with recovering 17 children, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Web site.
Experts say it's a system worth investing in.
"The whole neighborhood and the whole community starts to look and pay attention to what's going on around them," said Stephen Jenkevice, vice president of the National Missing Children's Locate Center USA.
More information about AMBER can be found at www.missingkids.com.