New tool in missing person investigations
As of Thursday, July 14, 2011, the Stafford Township Police Department was equipped with a new tool to aid in the investigation of children, mentally or physically challenged persons and elderly residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease who have gone missing.
The service which is provided to the Stafford Township Police Department at no cost by the Fort Lauderdale, Florida based A Child Is Missing alerts residents and businesses in a targeted area about a missing child, elderly person (Alzheimer’s/dementia) or disabled person. Upon being notified of a missing person, A Child Is Missing records a customized alert message, which is phoned to the area where the missing person was last seen. A Child Is Missing can place up to 1000 phone calls in 60 seconds.
The alert message provides pertinent information about the missing person including description, clothes worn and the time and place the person was last seen. Call recipients are asked to call the police with any information that they have about the missing person.
Since 1997, A Child Is Missing has received more than 20,000 calls for assistance from law enforcement and has placed over 36 million alert calls to residents. To date, A Child is Missing has been credited with more than 900 safe assisted recoveries with the average recovery time less then one hour from the time the alert calls were placed.
Further information about A Child Is Missing Alert Program may be obtained at www.achildismissing.org
