In case a child goes missing

By: Sherrie Williams
The Iowa Park Police Department has a new service for residents of Iowa Park that they hope they will never have to use.

But, should they receive a report of a child or an elderly person gone missing they have a new tool that can give them thousands of pairs of ears and eyes in about five minutes to help them locate the missing person.

A Child is Missing (ACIM) is an alert program that allows law enforcement to call them with a description of the missing person, their last seen location and pertinent information.

A trained technician inputs the information into a sophisticated computer program and a calling area is established. The program uses computer mapping and enhanced satellite imagery to select an appropriate calling area.

An audio message is then specifically tailored and quickly disseminated within the calling area in which residents in that area are called and if they answer will hear the message. If the phone is answered by an answering machine the message will be left on it.

“This will be a huge help for us in locating any child or elderly that goes missing. We have great community support in everything we do and being able to put a call out will make our recovery time much faster,” communication supervisor Amie Schultz said.

Standard alert program calling time is 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. unless circumstances dictate otherwise. Law enforcement determines if calls are to be made after 10:30 p.m.
“When something like this happens, people may witness something and not realize it until they get the call about a missing person, then they realize what they saw was something,” said Amie.

The program can be used in tandem with Amber Alert when an address is known.
The program is primarily used for those under 18 who go missing, are lost, wander away, run away or are abducted.

Also, anyone of any age who is mentally or physically challenged, or elderly (such as with Alzheimer’s or dementia).

The program is also a tool for law enforcement to identify sexual offenders living in the particular area where the child went missing.

Other cases in which the ACIM program can be used is if a child or unconscious person is located, alert calls can locate parents, guardian or family members.

Also in situations of school lockdowns/evacuations, ACIM can map the area surrounding the school to send alerts to the community.

The program operates similar to a reverse 911 system, however, if your number is unlisted or you want your cell phone number listed with the program you must register it.
To register your unlisted number or cell phone, go the iowapark.com click on the police link and locate the A Child is Missing link and follow the directions.

You may also register your unlisted number or cell phone by going to www.achildismissing.org If you have a listed number you do not need to register.

Numbers listed with the program are not sold or distributed to others, according to Iowa Park Police Chief Robert Johnson.

The program, is offered to law enforcement free of charge to their agency. It is funded from government grants, corporations, foundations, and individuals. It is not restrained by jurisdictional boundaries permitting calls to cross county/state lines.

Since its inception in Jan. 1997, more than 14 million phone calls have been placed by ACIM to search for missing persons.

Of course, this program will not replace the efforts of law enforcement, firefighter, and volunteers in locating a missing person in Iowa Park, but it will enhance their efforts and get more citizens involved.