A Canadian province and two U.S. states have effectively erased the border when it comes to AMBER Alerts. Manitoba signed an AMBER Alert memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Minnesota and North Dakota to make sure children abducted in one area will still be found when they are taken to another.

“It's obviously better to have an agreement in place that ensures cooperation,” said Keith McCaskill, Manitoba AMBER Alert Coordinator. “You want the alerts to go out as wide as possible to make sure the child is safe.”

The MOU was signed by each attorney general in Manitoba, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Everyone agreed to cooperate in these key areas: have a single point of contact available 24 hours a day to issue alerts for another jurisdiction; make sure AMBER Alert criteria are met and have a review committee to identify and correct problems; and educate law enforcement officers, broadcasters, and the public.

Manitoba Attorney General Dave Chomiak is also working to get an MOU signed by other provinces. “The next step is to enhance our respective AMBER Alert strategies by committing to the development of a broader, inter-jurisdictional approach that will facilitate a timely and consistent response across provincial boundaries.”

Minnesota AMBER Alert Coordinator Janell Rasmussen said other states and provinces should consider an MOU and offered this advice for anyone considering it. “I would recommend that you don't make it too specific. The most important thing is to recognize you have a working relationship.” She added the MOU formalizes what everyone was willing to do in the first place but also challenges everyone to do more to strengthen each AMBER Alert plan.

The MOU was signed in 2006 and so far no one has had to issue an alert under the MOU. “We are ready,” said McCaskill.