AMBER Advocate Magazine

The 2008 National AMBER Alert Conference includes Child Abduction Response Team (CART) members for the first time, aiming to integrate them with other key partners such as broadcasters and law enforcement officials from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe. A major focus is the collaboration between state CARTs and the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) teams, with regional training conferences held to coordinate efforts and clarify roles. A front-line story from Colorado recounts an AMBER Alert issued for a five-month-old baby after the child’s mother is attacked by the alleged kidnapper. Despite technical issues with the initial notification system during the Democratic National Convention, a backup system activates successfully, and the child is recovered safely within hours. The newsletter profiles Phil Keith, AMBER Alert Program Director at Fox Valley Technical College, highlighting his long career in law enforcement and his leadership in expanding Department of Justice training initiatives, which reach nearly 5,000 participants in just over two years. Regional AMBER Alert Liaisons—Bonnie Lane (Northeast), Floy Turner (South), Terri Peaks (Midwest), Susan “Sue” Miller (West), and Jim Walters (Indian Country)—are introduced as key contacts for partners in their respective regions. The community mourns the passing of Carl Smith, former president of the Oklahoma Broadcasters Association and the pioneer behind the nation’s first statewide AMBER Alert plan. Meanwhile, Canada prepares to launch a new national notification system through the Canadian Association for Public Alerting and Notification (CAPAN), designed to serve as a central hub for all public alerts, including AMBER Alerts.

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