Alert programs: Green Alert

The Houston Regional Amber Alert System does not have green alerts. The first I had heard of this alert was at the National Conference last month.

Hi Jillian. I know Wisconsin has a Green Alert. In our state we try real hard to fend off the various alerts. Silver, Green, etc. Most of these would fall under our endangered missing person alerts. We feel that we have much more flexibility that way and it takes away the large public education piece. Everyone understands what a missing person is but many don’t know what a silver alert, or green alert, or blue alert is. I always refer to the old terrorist threat color code – no one every knew what they meant.

Hi Jillian,

This is Josh from the New York State Police. We do not have a green alert here. The alerts we have are Amber, Managed by the NYSP and then we have a missing child alert, Missing/Vulnerable adult alert and missing college student alert that is managed by the Missing Persons Clearinghouse at the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). These alerts basically have everything covered. I do not forsee NY adding any other alerts in the near future.

Josh

Hi Jillian,

Texas does not have a Green Alert Program. It seems that the green alert would have the same criteria as the missing endangered alert except the missing person would be identified as active or non-active military. Based on what I’ve experienced, I believe there may be an added risk in most cases of at-risk missing military. There is the possibility of flashbacks and reliving combat experiences which may pose a danger to themselves and/or others. We also have to consider the elevated suicide rate with active and non-active military. Differentiating these cases from the others by using GREEN would help law enforcement know the risks involved when attempting to locate and rescue the individual. A GREEN alert would immediately alert law enforcement to utilize additional resources such as their Crisis Management Team, Veterans Assistance and additional military personnel who may have specific knowledge in the issues the soldier is experiencing. I think having a GREEN alert is an excellent idea.

Thank you,

Sgt. Karen E. Kozak #1386
El Paso Police Department

Hello from Michigan! We are similar to what Kris Rush has stated about MN. We have the “Endangered Missing Advisory” for all other missing persons who are not AMBER or Blue criteria. Also of note is we do not use the word “alert” for our endangered missing. Sometimes I feel we have a better response from the public – certainly on social media – reference an “advisory” so as to not over-stimulate the public with all the “alerts.” Eventually, they all get immune to being “alerted” for everything.

The Arkansas AMBER Alert Plan does not include “Green” Alerts…

Georgia Currently has No Green Alert.

We have 5 Alerts in Georgia –
Amber Alert (Levi’s Call)
Silver Alert (Mattie’s Call)
Blue Alert (Law Enforcement)
Kimberly’s Call (Rape or Sexual Assault Alert)
Media Advisory

Arizona does not have a Green Alert program currently.

We have the following Alerts:
AMBER
Silver
Blue
Endangered Missing Person Advisory

No GREEN Alert in TN, and never discussed.