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Amber Alert of Michigan
A cooperative effort between the Michigan
State Police, Michigan Sheriffs Association, Michigan Association of
Chiefs of Police and the Michigan Association
of Broadcasters.
Click HERE to see active Amber Alerts.
Amber Alert is a statewide notification
program to help locate abducted children.
The Amber Alert program is designed to save
children by locating abducted children within the first
24-hours which are the most critical hours in an abduction.
Download the brochure
( PDF) explaining Michigan's Amber Alert program.
The power
of free, over-the-air electronic media is the best way to quickly reach Michigan
citizens who may have information leading to the return of a missing or abducted
child. Through the Amber Alert program, listeners and viewers will
become the eyes and ears for police, and hopefully aid in the return of
the child.
IMPLEMENTATION
Under Michigan's Amber Alert program
established in 2001, broadcast radio and television stations receive notices
via fax and email directly from the Michigan State Police.
In addition, we are beginning distribution of alerts through the state's Emergency Alert System. Stations air the information on the notice as often as possible.
Additionally, stations include it in their newscasts and continue to cover the alert
in your news for the next forty hours.
Amber Alert is a voluntary program.
Because each station is different, stations comply to their best
ability, within their format, to handle the Amber Alert notice according
to suggested airing instructions.
Statistics show
that the sooner the information gets on the air, the greater the chance
that the child will be returned.
The
Amber Alert system is designed to help disseminate information quickly
which will lead to the recovery of an abducted child.
Stations receive the Amber Alert from the
Michigan State Police. The State Police receive notice from local law
enforcement agencies when these agencies are investigating an abduction.
Only the State Police have the authority to issue an alert, and the
State Police have a strict guideline of criteria that must be met in
order for an Amber alert to be activated. Once it is decided to activate
an alert, the State Police also determine which regions of the state
should be activated.
HISTORY
In January 1996, nine-year-old Amber Hagerman was riding her bicycle when a
neighbor heard the girl scream.The neighbor saw a man pull Amber off her bike,
throw her into the front seat of his pickup truck, and drive away at a high speed.
The neighbor called police and provided a description of the suspect and his vehicle,
but couldn't recall much else. Arlington Police and the FBI interviewed other
neighbors and searched for the suspect and vehicle. Local radio and TV stations
covered the story in their regular newscasts. Four days later, Amber's body was
found in a drainage ditch four miles away. Her throat had been cut. Her kidnapping
and murder remain unsolved.
A concerned citizen contacted a Dallas, Texas, radio station suggesting
the idea that Dallas radio stations should repeat news bulletins about
abducted children just like they do severe weather warnings.
The idea was presented to the general managers of the radio stations in the
Dallas/Fort Worth area.They agreed that such a program would provide an important
public service and might help save the life of a child.
The Dallas Amber Plan was started in July 1997 to help safely recover
missing children that police believe have been abducted.
Since then, the program has successfully recovered eight children
and expanded to other cities and states nationwide.
Although the Amber Plan is named after Amber Hagerman, this national program is
dedicated to all children nationwide who've been abducted.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, up to 4600 children
are abducted by strangers every year (about 12 children nationwide every
day).
Amber Alert was launched in Michigan on June 19, 2001.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is a station's liability?
A: There is a very strict
protocol that the police agencies use to determine if an abduction has
occurred. Every missing child will not necessarily activate the Amber
Alert. The Michigan State Police (MSP) and local law enforcement
professionals will make that determination. If you receive calls from
citizens about their missing child refer them to the MSP. Only Amber
Alert activations by the MSP protect broadcast stations by statute. MAB received an opinion from libel and
first amendment attorney John Ronayne. His opinion states that as long
as the information comes to a station from the Michigan State Police,
the announcements that the station makes are covered by statute, which
protects accurate reports of a "governmental notice,
announcement, (or) written.report." (MCLA 600.2911).
Important: stations will notice that
the term "alleged abductor" is used. Always use the term
"alleged".
Q: Can you tell me more about using EAS?
A:The MAB and its members have made it possible to deliver alerts through the statewide Emergency Alert System. Participating stations receive these alerts in addition to the faxes and emails issued by the Michigan State Police.
Q: Can a station mention the name
and/or broadcast a photo of the child that is abducted?
A: The only information that a
station can broadcast will be filled out on the form that station's
receive via fax from the Michigan State Police. The child's parents or guardians
must give their consent to use the child's name and/or picture. Keep in mind that, if
nothing else, a station can simply broadcast the description.
Q: How does it work?
A: On the law enforcement side,
all alerts funnel through a specific office at the Michigan State
Police. MAB has worked with this office to equip them with a broadcast
fax and email channel, plus a link to the Emergency Alert System. When an alert is requested, the MSP verifies the information and then distributes the alert to specific areas via fax and EAS, to the entire state via email. MAB has gathered multiple fax numbers and email addresses
for each station and maintains the database for the MSP. Stations are asked to educate
on-air personalities, engineers, control room
personnel and other staff of importance to this program.
Q: Will stations receive notice when
the child is found?
A: The Michigan State
Police headquarters will issue an update notice via fax and email channels when a child is found or the alert is cancelled. There is no cancellation notice via the EAS.
Q: Should calls from the public come to the station?
A: No. Stations should state in
the broadcast "do not contact this station". Any information
regarding the alerts must go to the local division of law enforcement
handling the case or through 911.
Q: How can I better educate my
station and ensure that Amber Alert works well?
A: The MAB has sent all stations a
flier, brochure and other information on how Amber Alert works in
Michigan. Stations may request additional copies from MAB to help
continue to educate staff. Please post these materials in your control
room and near the fax machines.
Q: Why are broadcasters involved?
A: Radio and television stations
believe strongly in serving their local communities. Amber Alert is
one way in which free, over-the-air broadcasters can help the
communities they serve. For more information on Michigan broadcasters'
community service, read the MAB's
Community
Service Survey.
LINKS TO RELATED WEBSITES
For questions on Michigan's Amber Alert program, contact the MAB or MSP.
The MAB is not a law enforcement organization. DO NOT contact the MAB
with tips or information on missing children, instead, contact the local police.
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