20-09 Alert Notification System

Alert Notifications Systems

• The Kansas City Missouri Police Department has procedures for activating an America's Missing Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) Alert, National Blue Alert Network (Blue Alert), and the Missouri Endangered Silver Advisory Plan (Silver Alert).

AMBER Alert

• The AMBER Alert is a cooperative plan between radio/television stations and local law enforcement to locate abducted children from Kansas City.
• Criteria for initiating an AMBER Alert:
  • A reasonable belief that an abduction has occurred.
  • The child is 17 years of age or younger.
  • The child is in the custody of someone other than a parent, guardian, or other official custodial entity.
  • Enough descriptive information exists about the child, the abductor, and/or suspect's vehicle.
• Information disseminated to the public:
  • Victim's name (unless release of the name would be damaging or injurious).
  • Suspect information (as specific as possible).
• Procedure for initiating an AMBER Alert:
  • Field supervisor responds to the scene and determines if the criteria have been met.
  • Field supervisor notifies the on-call Media Unit member.
  • Media Unit member notifies local media, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and others.
  • Field supervisor completes the AMBER Alert Child Abduction Notification Sheet and faxes or emails it to relevant parties.

Blue Alert

• The Blue Alert provides for a rapid dissemination of information to law enforcement agencies, media, and the public about violent offenders who have killed, seriously injured, or pose an imminent and credible threat to law enforcement.
• Criteria for initiating a Blue Alert:
  • A law enforcement officer is killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.
  • An officer is missing in connection with official duties.
  • There is an imminent and credible threat to kill or seriously injure a law enforcement officer.
  • There is actionable information known about a suspect.
• Procedure for initiating a Blue Alert:
  • Homicide Unit Commander or designee completes the Blue Alert Advisory Form on the MSHP website.
  • MSHP notifies law enforcement agencies, broadcasters, and the public through various channels.

Silver Alert

• The Silver Alert is authorized when:
  • The person is 60 years of age or older and believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment.
  • A legal custodian of the missing person has completed a missing person's report to the Department.
  • There is sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the missing adult.
• Procedure for initiating a Silver Alert:
  • Department members follow the guidelines for Adult Missing Persons and Missing/Runaway Juveniles.
  • Missing Persons Cold Case Section creates a NCIC message using the Endangered Missing (EME) code.
  • Media Unit forwards all information to the MSHP.

This quiz is about Procedural Instruction 20-09 of the Kansas City Missouri Police Department, which covers alert notification systems and media contact.