Utah Amber Alert

by Utah Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI)

1. Utah’s AMBER Alert and Utah’s AMBER Alert and
Endangered Person Endangered Person
AdvisoryAdvisory
Baseline InquiryBaseline Inquiry

2. IntroductionIntroduction
Background
AMBER Alert plans
Criteria
Activation
Endangered Person Advisory

3. BackgroundBackground
Utah adopted the AMBER plan April 2, Utah adopted the AMBER plan April 2,
20022002
Known as Rachael AlertKnown as Rachael Alert
Utah 5Utah 5
thth
state to adopt statewide plan state to adopt statewide plan
First Rachael Alert June 5, 2002First Rachael Alert June 5, 2002

4. RachaelRachael
Rachael Marie Runyan was abducted Rachael Marie Runyan was abducted
from Sunset, Utah on August 26, 1982 from Sunset, Utah on August 26, 1982
while playing with her two brothers at while playing with her two brothers at
a parka park
Rachael's body was found 24 days Rachael's body was found 24 days
later in Weber Canyon later in Weber Canyon
Abduction and murder remain Abduction and murder remain
unsolvedunsolved

6. Background con’tBackground con’t
1 year after Rachael Alert was 1 year after Rachael Alert was
adopted, name changed to AMBER adopted, name changed to AMBER
AlertAlert
Utah citizens could identify child Utah citizens could identify child
abduction alert by AMBER Alertabduction alert by AMBER Alert

7. Background con’tBackground con’t
Utah is the only state that lets law Utah is the only state that lets law
enforcement initiate an AMBER Alert enforcement initiate an AMBER Alert
without other authorizationwithout other authorization

8. First AMBER Alert PlanFirst AMBER Alert Plan
First AMBER Alert created in 1996 in First AMBER Alert created in 1996 in
Arlington, TexasArlington, Texas
9 year old Amber Hagerman abducted 9 year old Amber Hagerman abducted
while riding her bikewhile riding her bike
Brutally murdered and the case Brutally murdered and the case
remains unsolvedremains unsolved
Citizens and broadcasters outraged Citizens and broadcasters outraged
and wanted to do somethingand wanted to do something

9. NationwideNationwide
Total Plans Nationwide -120Total Plans Nationwide -120
Statewide Plans -53Statewide Plans -53
Regional Plans -29Regional Plans -29
Local Plans -38Local Plans -38
Texas, Ohio, and Florida have Texas, Ohio, and Florida have
regional, local and statewide Alertregional, local and statewide Alert

10. NationwideNationwide
No nationwide AMBER planNo nationwide AMBER plan
States criteria similarStates criteria similar
Some states stricterSome states stricter
AMBER plans being adopted in Indian AMBER plans being adopted in Indian
countrycountry

11. International PlansInternational Plans
GreeceGreece
CanadaCanada
NetherlandsNetherlands
AustraliaAustralia
Germany Germany
France France
UKUK

12. Utah Public Service Utah Public Service
AnnouncementAnnouncement

13. Criteria for AMBER AlertCriteria for AMBER Alert
Believed to be a child abduction?
Child 17 years of age or younger
Victim believed to be facing imminent
danger, serious bodily injury or death?
Information available to assist in safe
recovery of the victim or location of a
suspect or person of interest?

14. AMBER Alert ProtocolAMBER Alert Protocol
Criteria metCriteria met
Law Enforcement AuthorizationLaw Enforcement Authorization
Mandatory call to BCIMandatory call to BCI
UAAUAA transaction on UCJIS entered by transaction on UCJIS entered by
agency or dispatch centeragency or dispatch center
AMBER Alert transmittedAMBER Alert transmitted

15. BCI and the EAS BCI and the EAS
BCI initiating agency for
Emergency Alert System
System notifies all broadcasters in
Utah the same as a weather
notification would

16. Highway signs
Cell phone, e-mail messages
6,000 plus citizens signed up to
receive Alerts
Sign up on BCI’s website
Also ActivatedAlso Activated

17. BCI’s RoleBCI’s Role
Provide agency supportProvide agency support
Help with AMBER entryHelp with AMBER entry
Help with NCIC entryHelp with NCIC entry
NLETS AMBER Alert regionally or NLETS AMBER Alert regionally or
NationwideNationwide

18. UTAH AMBER ALERT ACTIVATED
ABDUCTION DATE/TIME/LOC: 08242007 1109 200 WEST
VEHICLE/ COLOR/TAN-GRY STATE/UT
YEAR/1990 MAKE/FORD TYPE/4D
OTHER VEHICLE IDENTIFIERS/DENT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, TEMP TAG
SUSPECT/ NAME/WHEELWRIGHT,JULIA JASMINE DOB/01271982 AGE/25
HGT/504 WGT/110 HAIR/BRO EYE/BRO SEX/F RACE/I
CLOTHING/UNK CLOTHING OTHER IDENTIFIERS/JASMINE TATTOO ACROSS
BACK OF NECK, JASMINE ANDMARK TATTOO ON ANKLE VICTIM/SPENS,JASMINE
MONIQUE DOB/06162002 AGE/5 HGT/309 WGT/060 HAIR/BRO EYE/HAZ SEX/F
RACE/W CLOTHING/WHITE POLO SHIRT WITH UNK TYPE EMBLEM, LIGHT
BROWN SHORTS, NO SHOES REMARKS/ 2ND SUSPECT: WATTERS,DONALD LEE
05181980 27 YEARS OLD 510, 180,BLU, BLO CLOTHING: WHITE TANK TOP /
POSSIBLE BLACK HOODIETATTOOS: SKULL TATTOO ON RIGHT UPPER ARM.
ORI/UT0150000
AGENCY/NSWACD
SUBMITTER/KMUNFORD
AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATOR/SHERIFF ERCANBRACK
PHONE/8016298221
NIC/M136807035

19. Amber Alert Issued for Amber Alert Issued for
Missing 5-Year-Old GirlMissing 5-Year-Old Girl

20. PolicyPolicy
Every law enforcement agency should
have AMBER Alert policy
On-going training and updating
Info for first line officers,
administration, dispatch
Dispatch centers should always be
included in agency policy!

21. What is an Endangered What is an Endangered
Person Advisory?Person Advisory?

22. Endangered Person Endangered Person
AdvisoryAdvisory
Disseminates info to media and law Disseminates info to media and law
enforcementenforcement
Missing or endangered persons that do Missing or endangered persons that do
not meet AMBER criterianot meet AMBER criteria

23. Endangered AdultsEndangered Adults
Abducted clerk from a
convenience store
Elderly individual with
Alzheimer's
Missing college
student
Persons that have
wandered away from
care facilities
Overdue travelers
(weather)

24. EPA GuidelinesEPA Guidelines
Person is missing
–Family believes circumstances are suspicious
Person in danger
–Age
–Health
–Mental Disability
–Environment
–Weather conditions
–Accompanying dangerous person

25. EPA Guidelines con’tEPA Guidelines con’t
Individuals that don’t meet AMBER Individuals that don’t meet AMBER
Alert criteriaAlert criteria
Law enforcement believes missing Law enforcement believes missing
person needs immediate media person needs immediate media
attentionattention

26. Law enforcement transmits in-state Law enforcement transmits in-state
broadcast with broadcast with EPAEPA transaction transaction
Contact BCI to advise us of Contact BCI to advise us of EPAEPA
BCI e-mails Utah mediaBCI e-mails Utah media
Media may contact your agency for Media may contact your agency for
more infomore info
EPA ProcessEPA Process

27. All law enforcement All law enforcement
notifiednotified
Media notifiedMedia notified
What Happens with EPA?What Happens with EPA?

28. Activate EASActivate EAS
Use highway signsUse highway signs
No BCI reviewsNo BCI reviews
Activate cell phones, pagers, e-mailsActivate cell phones, pagers, e-mails
EPA Does Not…EPA Does Not…

29. SANDY CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, UT0180500
******ENDANGERED PERSON ADVISORY*******
USE CAUTION, SUICIDAL/VIOLENT TENENCIES
PEACOCK, AUSTIN, M/W, 13 YOA, DOB 03161993, 502/065, BRO/BRO,
LSW OFF
WHT BUTTONED UP LONG SLEEVE SHIRT, TONY HAWK BRAND, WITH
BLU DIAMONDS AND SWIRL PATTERN, BLU JEANS, BLK SOCKS, UNK
SHOES WAS JUST RELEASED FROM UNI/PSYCHIATRIC WARD FOR
ATTEMPTING SUICIDE WITH A KNIFE/WITH UNK FRIENDS BELIEVED
TO POSS BE IN THE SANDY, UTAH AREA NEAR EASTMONT MIDDLE
SCHOOL
IF LOCATED, PLEASE CONTACT SANDY CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT,
801-840-4000-
REF SANDY CASE 06E005707

30. Who would qualify?Who would qualify?

31. Springville man returns Springville man returns
home after missing for home after missing for
almost 24 hoursalmost 24 hours

32. ScenariosScenarios

33. Scenario 1Scenario 1
A mother reports that her 5-year-oldA mother reports that her 5-year-old
daughter has been abducted by her exdaughter has been abducted by her ex
husband and he had threatened to "gohusband and he had threatened to "go
out in style" if anyone tried to stop him.out in style" if anyone tried to stop him.
Suspect refused police orders to returnSuspect refused police orders to return
the girl back home. She has asthma andthe girl back home. She has asthma and
is in need of medication for itis in need of medication for it

34. Issues for DiscussionIssues for Discussion
What are the key issues to be What are the key issues to be
considered?considered?
Do you issue an AMBER alert or EPA?Do you issue an AMBER alert or EPA?
If not, what actions would you take? If not, what actions would you take?

35. Scenario 2Scenario 2
An 18 year-old mentally challenged An 18 year-old mentally challenged
female is reported missing from her female is reported missing from her
care facility. She is believed to be in care facility. She is believed to be in
the company of a 68-year-old the company of a 68-year-old
registered sex offender. Her case registered sex offender. Her case
worker indicated that she has the worker indicated that she has the
mental capacity of a 6-year-old mental capacity of a 6-year-old

36. Issues for DiscussionIssues for Discussion
What are the key issues to be What are the key issues to be
considered?considered?
Do you issue an AMBER alert or EPA?Do you issue an AMBER alert or EPA?
If not, what actions would you take? If not, what actions would you take?

37. Scenario 3Scenario 3
A father wakes up at 7:00 a.m. and notices A father wakes up at 7:00 a.m. and notices
his 15 year old daughter is missing. She has his 15 year old daughter is missing. She has
had a relationship with a violent felon that had a relationship with a violent felon that
has family ties in Mexico. He contacts police. has family ties in Mexico. He contacts police.
It has now been at least 12 hours. She is It has now been at least 12 hours. She is
sending text messages to her sister saying sending text messages to her sister saying
she is ok and they are heading to Mexico. she is ok and they are heading to Mexico.
Her cell phone is traced in another stateHer cell phone is traced in another state

38. Issues for DiscussionIssues for Discussion
What are the key issues to be What are the key issues to be
considered?considered?
Do you issue an AMBER alert or EPA?Do you issue an AMBER alert or EPA?
If not, what actions would you take? If not, what actions would you take?

39. Federal LawsFederal Laws
Protect Act 2003Protect Act 2003
Mandatory entry into NCIC Mandatory entry into NCIC withinwithin 2 2
hours of being reportedhours of being reported
No agency can remove a No agency can remove a missing missing
personperson from NCIC no matter the age if from NCIC no matter the age if
they have not been locatedthey have not been located

40. Federal Laws (con’t)Federal Laws (con’t)
Adam Walsh Child Protection Safety Act Adam Walsh Child Protection Safety Act
of 2006 (amended the protect Act)of 2006 (amended the protect Act)
Suzanne’s Law (Mandatory entry into Suzanne’s Law (Mandatory entry into
NCIC under age of 21)NCIC under age of 21)

41. Additional InformationAdditional Information
Utah Missing Person ClearinghouseUtah Missing Person Clearinghouse
–Gina McNeilGina McNeil
–801-965-4686801-965-4686
–801-652-6287801-652-6287
–[email protected]@utah.gov
www.amberalert.govwww.amberalert.gov
http://publicsafety.utah.gov/bci/http://publicsafety.utah.gov/bci/

42. Additional InformationAdditional Information
Additional information can be found on Additional information can be found on
these websites or contact Gina McNeil these websites or contact Gina McNeil
Utah Missing Persons Clearinghouse Utah Missing Persons Clearinghouse
[email protected]@utah.gov
[phone] or [phone](801) 965-4686 or [phone]
www.amberalert.govwww.amberalert.gov
http://publicsafety.utah.gov/bcihttp://publicsafety.utah.gov/bci