A CHILD IS MISSING PROGRAM

Every 40 seconds a child is reported missing in the U.S.  It is a frightening statistic and can forever change lives. The Chippewa Falls Police Department is excited to be involved in a program that assists in locating missing children.

A Child is Missing (ACIM) is a national non-profit organization based out of Fort Lauderdale Florida offering free assistance to law enforcement to aid in recovering missing persons.  Although the name says “child” they will also aid in finding missing teens, elderly and/or disabled persons.  ACIM provides immediate telephone alerts to the surrounding community when an individual goes missing.  ACIM activation time is approximately 15 minutes after police request assistance to help in the search of an individual.

A Child Is Missing alert uses a three-prong program:  a telephone database, a geo-mapping system and satellite imagery.  Once it has been confirmed that a person is missing, a call is placed to an ACIM technician.  All pertinent information is relayed and then the technician uses computer-mapping technology to identify the area where the individual was last seen.  An imagery satellite program is also used to increase the map-tracking accuracy to help visualize areas that may be a danger such as water or woods, or might attract a wandering individual such as a mall or park.  Next an individual message is recorded with the description of the person.  This alert is phoned to homes and businesses in the area where the person was last seen.  The alert message asks residents to check their property and to call their local law enforcement agency at the number provided should they have any information.  If a lead is obtained, the search can be expanded to that area and/or discontinued in other areas.  This automated phone system can send 1000 recorded alert messages in 60 seconds. 

Law enforcement agencies across the nation are taking advantage of the service, including the Eau Claire Police Department in this area.  The organization reports it has assisted in 315 “safe recoveries” since its inception in 1996.  According to Lt. Mark Hanson the system has not been used yet in Chippewa Falls but has the potential to be very helpful.  “I can think of a couple occasions just in the last year where this would have been a beneficial tool so we look forward to having it available for future missing person situations.”  This program does not replace the “Amber Alert” system which requires particular criteria before activation, but can supplement that system.  “This program is less restrictive so we can use this in more situations.  It can also be used in conjunction with an “Amber Alert”, if that situation exists.  It certainly gives us another option and resource and greatly expands the number of eyes and ears we can involve in our search efforts.”

More information can be obtained from the organization’s website achildismissing.org.  For more information on the police department’s involvement, contact Chief Wayne Nehring or Lt. Mark Hanson.

Submitted by Telecommunicator Mary Bowe and Lt. Mark Hanson