AMBER Advocate Magazine

Issue 20

AMBER Alert scams emerge as a growing concern, with individuals posing as program representatives—either by phone or door-to-door—to solicit money or gather personal information about children. In response, Nevada AMBER Alert Coordinator Stephanie Parker and Ohio Coordinator Captain Rob Jackson use these incidents to educate the public about the program’s purpose and what to expect during a legitimate alert. The AMBER Alert community mourns the passing of Hugh Emerson Munn, a pioneer who bridged law enforcement and media, and developed innovative training for thousands of professionals. Theresa Shanley is named AMBER Alert Citizen of the Year after her intuition leads her to recognize a 12-year-old Virginia girl abducted by her mother’s killer; her 911 call results in the child’s safe rescue. A Halloween AMBER Alert in California is resolved thanks to two cars of trick-or-treaters and their parents who spot the suspect’s vehicle after hearing the alert on the radio and seeing it on a freeway sign. To address challenges like high turnover and budget cuts, the AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance (AATT&A) Program begins delivering customized training directly to law enforcement academies. The Netherlands launches an iPhone app for AMBER Alerts, inspired by the FBI Child ID app, while Greece forms a multi-agency Coordination Operational Team for Missing Children, including police, firefighters, and the Coast Guard. A workshop in Indian Country focuses on the trafficking of Native American women and children. Meanwhile, Google partners with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to display AMBER Alerts on Google Search and Google Maps in areas where a child has been abducted.

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