Police in Adams County join missing child program

Adams County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Doug Barger and Ritzville Police Department Chief Dave McCormick have formalized agreements with the “A Child Is Missing” Alert Program that has led to a high-tech method to search locally for missing children, missing elderly (often with Alzheimer’s) and missing persons who may be mentally or physically challenged or disabled.

Effective May 1, upon receipt of qualifying missing person’s calls, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and Ritzville Police Department makes an immediate phone call to the national headquarters of the “A Child Is Missing” Alert Program.

The call initiates a rapid process of information gathering and use of sophisticated mapping systems.

“A Child Is Missing” then launches calls within minutes with an alert message detailing the missing person’s description, last known whereabouts, and other pertinent information.

The alert message also includes a phone number for use by anyone with information relating to the missing person.

Phone numbers that are called by this program include listed phone numbers and other numbers readily available to “A Child Is Missing” in the selected geographic area for the call.

Mobile numbers, unlisted numbers, broadband/voice-over internet protocol (VOIP) numbers, and TDD/TTY devices can be added by private citizens to ensure they are called in the event of an alert.

To enter your cell phone, unlisted, VOIP, or TDD/TTY number, visit www.achildismissing.org and click on “add your name” to enter your contact information.

This information is only used for emergency message alerts.

“A Child Is Missing” is a nationwide non-profit organization that helps law enforcement agencies locate endangered missing people.

They have the capacity to place 1,000 alert phone calls in one minute to residents and businesses in the area where someone has gone missing.

To date the efforts of “A Child Is Missing” have been credited with more than 920 safe assisted recoveries.