AMBER Alert SO-11-11 PDF

SPECIAL ORDER Subject AMBER Alert Number SO-11-11...

SPECIAL ORDER Subject AMBER Alert Number SO-11-11 Effective Date June 7, 2011 Related to: GO-OPS-304.03 (Missing Persons Report) DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GO-OPS-309.05 (Handling Kidnapping/Extortion Cases) I. Background Page 1 II. Definitions Page 1 III. Regulations Page 2 IV. Procedures Page 3 V. Cross References Page 3 I. BACKGROUND The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is the principle law enforcement agency in the District of Columbia and acts as the lead agency in the coordination and activation of the D.C. AMBER Alert Plan. The D.C. AMBER Alert Plan was developed by the District Department of Transportation in 2005 with the cooperation of the MPD and the D.C. Emergency Management Agency Broadcasters Association. Through the D.C. AMBER Alert Plan, MPD is able to collaborate with local broadcast stations in serious juvenile abduction investigations for the swift and safe return of the missing juvenile. II. DEFINITIONS For the purpose of this order, the following terms shall have the meanings designated: 1. Abducted – Circumstances in which a juvenile is reported to be involuntarily missing from the person(s) having care-taking responsibilities for the juvenile, and: a. An eyewitness has stated that the juvenile was taken by person(s) for whom there is a physical description, a vehicle description (if involved), and a direction of travel from the point last seen; or b. Lacking an eyewitness, articulable evidence exists that the juvenile’s disappearance was not voluntary. 2. AMBER Alert (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response Plan) – Early notification tracking system used by law enforcement to alert the general public, via television and radio, when a juvenile has been kidnapped, and authorities have reason to believe that the juvenile is in physical danger. AMBER ALERT (SO-11-11) Page 2 of 3 3. AMBER Coordinator – MPD member trained by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who may authorize and terminate an AMBER Alert. III. REGULATIONS A. The AMBER Alert shall only be activated when all of the following criteria are met: 1. The abducted juvenile is seventeen (17) years of age or younger, and it is believed that the juvenile has been abducted. NOTE: Particular consideration must be given when juveniles between the ages of fifteen (15) and seventeen (17) are reported missing as to their own behavior or mental capacity that may have in someway contributed to the criminal activity. A juvenile under fourteen (14) years of age cannot legally give consent for any action, and, therefore, that age group should be considered more at risk. NOTE: Child abduction by a non-custodial parent is not a case that would routinely meet the DC AMBER Plan criteria, unless there is a reasonable suspicion that the parent intends to physically harm the child. 2. It is believed that the abducted juvenile is in imminent danger or serious bodily harm or death. 3. An investigation has taken place that verified the abduction (i.e., eyewitness account) or eliminated alternative explanations. 4. There is sufficient information about the juvenile, abductor and/or suspect to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the juvenile, suspect, and/or suspect’s vehicle. 5. The abductor and/or juvenile are likely to still be in the broadcast area. 6. The incident report number is provided to the MPD AMBER Coordinator. NOTE: The MPD AMBER Coordinator may be contacted through the Command Information Center (CIC). 7. The juvenile must be entered in WALES/NCIC. B. The AMBER Alert Plan shall not be activated in cases of: 1. Parental kidnapping where there is no obvious danger to the juvenile; or 2. Runaways. AMBER ALERT (SO-11-11) Page 3 of 3 IV. PROCEDURES A. When responding to a call that a juvenile has been abducted, and the responding member believes the criteria have been met to activate the AMBER Alert Plan, the responding member shall immediately notify his/her Watch Commander. B. The Watch Commander shall notify the Watch Commander, CIC, as soon as possible, but in no case later than two (2) hours after the juvenile is reported missing. C. The Watch Commander, CIC, shall immediately notify MPD’s AMBER Coordinator; the appropriate District Commander; the Commanding Official, Youth Investigations Division (YID); and the Field Commander. D. The MPD AMBER Coordinator shall make the final determination to authorize the activation of the AMBER Alert. E. If the AMBER Alert activation is authorized, the AMBER Coordinator shall ensure compliance with the District of Columbia AMBER Alert Plan. F. The AMBER Coordinator shall authorize the cancellation of AMBER alerts. G. If all of the criteria for activation of the AMBER Alert are not met, members may request that a BOLO be issued for the missing juvenile. H. If all of the criteria for activation of the AMBER Alert are not met but media notification may be beneficial: 1. Members shall immediately notify the CIC who shall notify the MPD Public Information Office (PIO). 2. PIO shall contact electronic media outlets and network (wire) services and request immediate broadcast of descriptive information. V. CROSS REFERENCES District of Columbia AMBER Alert Plan, May 2005. Cathy L. Lanier Chief of Police CLL:PAB:MOC