Lincoln Police Department goes high-tech to search for missing children

[January 25, 2011]  Lincoln Police Department Chief Kenneth Greenslate has formalized an agreement with the A Child Is Missing alert program. This program is a high-tech method to search locally for missing children, missing elderly (often with Alzheimer's), college students, and missing individuals who may be mentally or physically challenged or disabled.

Effective immediately, upon receipt of a call about a missing individual, the Lincoln Police Department will make a phone call to a toll-free number that rings in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the national headquarters of the A Child Is Missing organization. The call, answered 24/7/365 by an information and mapping technician, initiates a rapid process of information gathering and use of sophisticated mapping systems.

A Child Is Missing then launches potentially thousands of calls within minutes with an alert message detailing the missing person's description, last known whereabouts and pertinent information. This alert message will also include a Lincoln Police Department phone number for use by anyone with information relating to the missing person.

This program is a free service. Lincoln Police Department officials will evaluate each potential activation of the program to ensure the application is appropriate to the case and that the system is optimally used. Policies, procedures and employee training will also guide the most efficient and effective use of this alert program.

Phone numbers that are called by this program include listed numbers and mobile numbers available to the ACIM organization in the selected area. Mobile numbers, unlisted numbers, broadband voice over IP numbers and TDD/TTY devices can be added to ensure they, too, are called in the event of an alert. To enter your cell phone, unlisted, voice over IP or TDD/TTY device number, visit www.achildismissing.org and sign up for alerts, submitting your name, number and address. This information will only be used for emergency message alerts.

A Child Is Missing is a nationwide nonprofit organization that uses sophisticated computer mapping systems and trained technicians with the capacity to place 1,000 alert phone calls in one minute to residents and businesses in the area where someone has gone missing. To date the efforts of A Child Is Missing have been credited with more than 790 safe assisted recoveries.

[Text from file received from the Lincoln Police Department]