The Amber (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) alert plan came to fruition after the kidnapping and brutal murder of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman in Arlington Texas. Amber was riding her bicycle in the afternoon when abducted by a man in a pickup truck. A fellow citizen heard Amber shriek and called the law enforcement to report a child kidnapping. Although police received a good description of the abductor’s vehicle there was little police could do to help Amber Hagerman unless an officer saw the truck.

Amber Hagerman was viciously murdered. Her remains found four days later, only four miles from the location of her abduction. The captor and killer remain nameless and faceless. If something constructive could come out of something as evil as the kidnapping and murder of a child, it would have to be the Amber Alert curriculum that developed after Amber's relatives and friends began an inquiry into why this happened. The community wanted to know what could prevent another child from dying so horribly.

The people living where Amber was taken from began talking with local radio stations arraigning the broadcasting of relevant information for any child reported abducted. In reality, the rebroadcasting of child kidnapping information is similar to our Emergency Broadcast System. The Emergency Broadcast System which is used to alert residents about treacherous weather, such as severe thunderstorms, hail, lighting, high winds, blizzard conditions, tornadoes or hurricanes.

Radio stations jumped on the Amber alert bandwagon, and quickly agreed to help. The initial arrangement involved police contacting the radio stations to trigger an Amber Alert. Police provide what information is obtained regarding the kidnapper, child, and if possible the vehicle used in the abduction. Radio stations then broadcast this same information repeatedly until the child is located or law enforcement cancels the Amber Alert.

In 2003, President Bush signed into effect the National Amber Alert Program. Although, the Amber Alert Program has been a nation wide program since 2003, many states are struggling with outdated emergency broadcast systems. Some states still struggle to implement the proper procedures necessary to make the Amber Alert program successful.

Law enforcement officials have struggled in some areas to develop a working definition qualifying the criteria to activate the Amber alert system. Witnessed child abductions are universal criteria for an Amber alert activation, the dispute comes when a child disappears without someone who saw what happened. There are no universal criteria about how to handle a missing child when there is no witness.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has three important criteria they recommend law enforcement establish before activating an Amber Alert. These include that:

• Police have confirmation the child is a victim of kidnapping.
• Police consider the child is in grave danger of physical harm.
• Police have information about the child, the abductor, and the vehicle.

During an abduction a child’s worst foe, besides the kidnapper, is time. An Amber alert can only assist in finding a missing kid after the information is in the public sector. An Amber Alert multiplies the amount of eyes looking for the abducted child. Anyone in the community might spot the missing child, the abductor, or the abductor’s vehicle.

When the local Amber alert system activates listen vigilantly to the information given, as you never know if you will see something. If you do observe an abducted child, do not approach the child or abductor, as the kidnapper may be carrying weapons. Call 911, or if in a car many states use *55 to reach your local highway patrol, or your local police department and report what you see.

The Amber Alert Plan is an innovative program on the cutting edge of technology and is proving to be a child's best hope in the event of abduction. However, in order for the Amber Alert Plan to be successful it is up to you and me in the community to watch out for our most precious commodity, our children. Currently, the Amber Alert Plan has found over 200 children since its origin.

For additional information about the Amber Alert Plan, or to view active Amber Alerts, please visit either CodeAmber.Org or AmberAlert.Gov .