RE: Virginia Amber Alert System (Are They Kidding?)
From: "Fagan, III, Patrick D., Lt." <Pete.Fagan@vsp.virginia.gov> To: "'FromWhispersToRoars Admin'" <fromwhisperstoroars@yahoo.com> Subject: RE: Virginia Amber Alert System Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2005 01:19:31 -0400 We do not post other state alerts unless requested by the state initiating the alert. There currently is no capability to send email alerts to the general public from VA but you can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children if you are an organization. You can establish secondary dissemination agreements with them. We hope to have email alerts for the general public within the next year. We have concern about sending alerts to areas outside of VA and re-publicizing the information unless we believe the individuals will be in that area. The car alarm syndrome is becoming the concern if we over publicize AMBER Alerts. I will check on the link for wireless alerts as I have previously requested that modification to our website be made to include a link to wirelessamberalert.org. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. You can go to www.vaamberalert.com to view our active statewide alerts. The AMBER Alert web portal has some states that use their system but they are mostly in the west and a few in the deep south. The ticker technology seems to be problematic to many Information Technology professionals as it is very resource intensive. Those that have tried it have in organizations; tend to stop because it causes problems on personal computers. The Commonwealth of VA does not allow the applications to operate on our computers. In regard to the other alerts; we have begun a process called “Endangered Missing Child Alert” . We will go through much the same notification process with the exception of highway signs. You can go to our missing children website http://www.vsp.state.va.us/cjis_missing_children.htm to view those missing that may not fall under the AMBER Alert criteria. I can appreciate your concern about the time lapse for AMBER Alerts, but I must say there are many factors that cause delay and most are unavoidable; with the exception of thinking that an AMBER Alert is appropriate and contacting the proper authorities. The most difficult areas that cause delay are getting the correct information to publicize and verifying it is valid. VA and Maryland have had three hoax requests for AMBER Alerts. We always advocate in our training that law enforcement agencies notify the media immediately even if it may not qualify and publicize the missing child investigation. The goal is to get the media involved. I hope this has addressed your questions and I have clarified our concern about publicizing AMBER Alerts in areas that may not be appropriate. If you have further questions feel free to email me. Lt. Pete Fagan VA State Police State AMBER Coordinator

Ok excuse me while I rant. ARE THEY KIDDING?? Last time I checked Megan’s Law and the Amber Alert criteria I didn’t see a section that said “Excuses Law Enforcement can use.” How can anyone compare alerts to car alarms? And 3 hoax’s in 2 states is still no reason to not issue them right away. These alerts are meant to save lives, not worry about looking stupid! As for sending them to other states well lets see VA and MD and DC are minutes apart along with about an hour to PA or NJ or WV. So sending outside the area is not a HUGE request. This is just absurd and not acceptable. Tickers being problematic BULL. If they were then why do so many other states have them. Is VA just lazy or computer illiterate. There is NO SUCH THING AS OVER PUBLISIZED!! Especially when a child is endangered. You may notice this response has really ticked me off. It is arrogant and I for one am not leaving it at this. I suggest everyone send him back a reply on his answers if you too are not pleased with them. I won’t do an example since this will effect each of us differently. But please don’t let this end here.. Thank you.

omg i have never heard something so stupid if they dont thinkits a good idea just say for crying out loud but come on they have amber alerts for a reason not for when it just suits them and plus i thought amber alerts where for every state they are meant to have them and lastin everyone gets hoaxs so what they going to do tell the fire sevirce not to brough and the medicas oh and the police!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! or they saying they never themselves had a hoax?