USVI Public Records

Document text

VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response Amber Alert Plan VIRGIN ISLANDS AMBER ALERT PLAN ORGANIZATIONAL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlines the responsibilities accepted by the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department (hereinafter V.I.P.D.) and the various media organizations to facilitate the establishment and functionally of the Virgin Islands Amber Alert Plan. The Virgin Islands Police Department agrees to: - Disseminate a Virgin Islands Amber Alert training handbook to all United States Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Agencies (hereinafter V.I.L.E.A.) and all media and conduct training for all VILEA’s and the media. - Negotiate and sign MOU Amber Alert agreements with all necessary participants. - Maintain a current copy of the Amber Alert Plan on the VI.P.D. Website located at www.vipd.gov.vi. - Maintain current copies of Law Enforcement Amber Alert forms and procedures of the V.I.P.D. website. - Maintain the Amber Alert Fax Contact List and E-mail Contact List. - Apply applicable activation criteria to all Amber Alert request. - Issue EAS (Emergency Alert System) Amber Alerts (eight Alerts per activation, unless cancelled early) - Relay the Amber Alert details by Fax and E-mail to all VILEA’s and the media. - Issue Amber Alert activations, updates and deactivations post the Amber Alert text, pictures, updates and cancellations on the VIPD website. - Retain all necessary paperwork relating to the Amber Alert system and any activations thereof. VIRGIN ISLANDS AMBER ALERT PLAN ORGANIZATIONAL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Virgin Islands Radio Stations that are signatories to this MOU agree to: - Receive and Relay all EAS Amber Alerts (eight alerts per activation, unless cancelled early) by broadcasting over their airwaves the details of the Amber Alert. - All radio programming will be interrupted to broadcast the Amber Alert. Virgin Islands Televisions Stations that are signatories to this MOU agree to: - Receive and Relay all EAS Amber Alerts (eight alerts per activation, unless cancelled early) by broadcasting over their stations all Amber Alerts by special newscast that interrupts T.V. programming or by emergency information scroll across the bottom of the television screen. Signatures below indicate approval of all aspects of the United States Virgin Islands Amber Alert System as presented in the Virgin Islands Police Department Amber Alert Plan. In particular, signatures of representatives from the organizations referred to in the Virgin Islands Amber Alert Organizational MOU indicate acceptance of the responsibilities outlined in that document. Elton Lewis, Police Commissioner Date U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department _____________________________________________________________ Athniel Ottley, General Manager/President Date Ottley Communications/Virgin Islands Broadcast COMMITMENT The Virgin Islands Police Department is committed to providing a safe environment for the children of the Virgin Islands that will give them the freedom to pursue their dreams within the framework of the United States Constitution. AMBER ALERT PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS Amber Alert Plan: Executive Summary ……………………………………………………… 1 Introduction ………………………………………………………………… 2 Purpose …………………………………………………………………… 3 Protocol …………………………………………………………………… 3 How the Amber Plan Works …………………………………………….. 4 Role of the Public ………………………………………………………… 5 Benefits to Amber Plan …………………………………………………. 6 Investigating Agency Procedures ……………………………………… 6 Summary …………………………………………………………………. 8 Tabs: * Amber Alert Decision Matrix * Law Enforcement Activation Forms * Authorization to Publicize * Fax/Initial Reporting Form Fact Sheet: * Memorandum of Understanding * Protect Act Amber Alert Plan Virgin Islands Police Department Executive Summary This Amber Alert Plan is a cooperative initiative between law enforcement agencies and local broadcasters to send an emergency alert to the public when a child has been abducted and it is believed that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death, either at the hands of another or due to a proven mental or physical disability. Under the Amber Plan, area radio and television stations interrupt programming to broadcast information about the missing child using the Emergency Alert System (EAS), formerly known as the Emergency Broadcast System. Whereas EAS is typically used for alerting the public to potential weather emergencies, it is also the warning system for civil and national emergencies. The federal government requires all radio and television stations and most cable systems to install and maintain devices that can monitor EAS warnings and tests and relays them rapidly and reliably to their audiences. The idea behind the Amber Plan is a simple one: if stations can broadcast weather warnings through EAS, why not child abductions? Consequently, the Amber Plan provides law enforcement agencies with a vital tool to help recover abducted children and quickly apprehend the suspect. Page -1- Amber Alert Plan Virgin Islands Police Department INTRODUCTION The Amber Alert Plan was created in 1996 as a powerful legacy to 9-year-old Amber Hagerman who was kidnapped and murdered in Arlington, Texas. Law enforcement says Amber was dragged from her bicycle while riding in a shopping center near her home. Her body was found four days later. The news of Amber’s murder outraged the entire community and mobilized residents to take action. Following her murder, concerned individuals contacted local radio stations in the Dallas area and suggested that the station broadcast special “alerts” over the airwaves to help find abducted children. In response to this recommendation and the community’s concern for the safety of local children, the Dallas/Fort Worth Association of Radio Managers, with the assistance of law enforcement agencies in northern Texas, established the Amber Plan. Initially it was only radio stations that participated. In 1999, area television stations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area joined the plan and began sending out these urgent bulletins. This successful police-community initiative resulted with U.S. President George W. Bush on April 30, 2003, signing into law the PROTECT Act of 2003, which in effect creates a nationwide Amber Alert system. The acronym PROTECT stands for: Prosecuting Remedies and Tools Against the Exploitation of Children Today. Also, this Act includes new legislation to thwart child pornography. A key element of the Amber Plan is commitment from both law enforcement and the media. Once law enforcement has authorized an Amber Alert, it should be broadcasted forthwith by the media. Page -2- Amber Alert Plan Virgin Islands Police Department PURPOSE The purpose of the Amber Plan is to provide a territory-wide rapid response to the most serious child abduction cases. When an Amber Alert is activated, law enforcement officers immediately gain the assistance of hundreds of broadcast and cable listeners and viewers throughout the area. The plan relies on the community to safely recover the abducted child. It is hoped that this early warning system will not only coerce a kidnapper into releasing the child for fear of being arrested but also deter the person from committing the crime in the first place. The Amber Alert program is designed to save children by locating abducted children within the first 24-hours which are the most critical hours in an abduction. The power of free, over-the-air electronic media is the best way to quickly reach Virgin Islands residents who may have information leading to the return of a missing or abducted child. Through the Amber Alert program, listeners and viewers will become the eyes and ears for police, and hopefully aid in the return of the child. PROTOCOL The following protocol/criteria will be utilized to determine if an Amber Alert should be issued for the U.S. Virgin Islands: 1. U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department, the leading local law enforcement agency, confirms a child has been abducted. 2. The child is under the age of 18. 3. Law enforcement believes the circumstances surrounding the abduction indicate that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death, either at the hands of another or due to a proven mental or physical disability. Page -3- Amber Alert Plan Virgin Islands Police Department 4. There is enough descriptive information about the child, abductor, and/or suspect’s vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast alert will help. 5. The activation must be recommended by the Virgin Islands Police Department. Officers are advised to become familiar with the AMBER ALERT DECISION MARIX located at the end of this plan. Note: ONLY THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT MAY ACTIVATE THE AMBER PLAN Activation should be requested within the shortest period of time possible following an abduction, but not before a preliminary investigation has been conducted. In most instances activation will not be practical if an extended period of time has passed since the disappearance. Inter-agency cooperation and assistance will greatly enhance the effectiveness of this tool. The above protocol will be strictly adhered to in order to discourage overuse of the Amber Alert Program that would make it less effective. HOW THE AMBER PLAN WORKS
The local law enforcement officer verifies that a child has been abducted and is in danger of serious bodily harm or death, either at the hands or another or due to a proven mental or physical disability. Page -4- Amber Alert Plan Virgin Islands Police Department
The reporting law enforcement officer contacts the Office of the Police Chief and submits the Amber Alert forms by FAX or hand delivery with all the required information for the alert.
The Chief of Police verifies receipt of the Amber Alert Notification Form with the reporting/initiating officer/agency, via telephone or radio system.
The Chief sends the information to Police Communications and all broadcasting companies: radio, cable and television.
The broadcasters will immediately broadcast the information to the general public.
The general public should contact the Virgin Islands Police Department if they can provide any information that would help in locating the child and/or abductor. Once the broadcasters receive the Amber Alert, radio, cable and television stations interrupt regularly scheduled programming to notify the public that a child has been kidnapped using the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Because 95% of all persons driving in their cars listen to the radio, this is an extremely effective way of providing descriptions of the child, the kidnapper, vehicles or accomplices. ROLE OF THE PUBLIC The general public is asked, when an Amber Alert is issued, to be alert to traffic and, if the vehicle, abductor and/or child is seen, to contact the telephone number given in the alert or the Police Department with the sighting information. Page -5- Amber Alert Plan Virgin Islands Police Department BENEFITS TO AMBER PLAN Besides turning the public into instant investigators when children are kidnapped, benefits of the Amber Alert include: • It is free; • It encourages participation between natural adversaries, law enforcement and media by drawing on their inherent strengths; • It promotes accountability by creating the foundation of a comprehensive missing child protocol; • It is an effective time critical response to kidnappers who can disappear with children at the rate of a mile per minute; • It sends a powerful message to potential kidnappers that this is a community that cares about and protects children; • It saves lives. INVESTIGATING AGENCY PROCEDURES 1. Do not attempt to activate the system based solely on information provided by a caller/reporting person. Activation will not occur without at least a preliminary investigation by the investigation agency. An NCIC missing person entry as “involuntary”, “endangered” or “disability” is required in activation cases. An “Authorization to Publicize” form, signed by a parent or guardian, is also required for broadcast of a child’s name. Note: In some instances, an NCIC entry may not be available prior to an activation request. Likewise, verbal consent to broadcast a child’s name may be obtained, but written consent may not be available prior to the activation request. Activation in a qualifying case will not be delayed for lack of the missing person entry or written consent, but both must be completed as soon as possible thereafter. Page -6- Amber Alert Plan Virgin Islands Police Department 2. Once an abduction has been confirmed and a review of the protocol indicates that the case qualifies, an “Amber Alert Notification System Form” must be completed and faxed, or submitted to the VIPD Chief of Police. Activation will not occur without submission of this form. Ensure that a public telephone number is provided for incoming calls/leads, since it will be used in the broadcast. Call the Chief of Police to advise them that a request is being sent via fax or otherwise. Note: Do not use the submission form as a substitute for authorization to publicize form and do not transmit the completed submission to other agencies. Once a final activation decision is made, the Chief of Police will re-route the submission form or the authorization to publicize form with a clear notation that the case is a VIPD Amber Alert activation. 3. Generate a formatted abduction message to ensure that other law enforcement agencies are aware of the publication and related details. Territory-wide dissemination (and if deemed to be appropriate, dissemination to surrounding islands) is required. This will assist with coordinating involvement of other police agencies and will ensure that they are prepared to effectively handle telephone calls received in response to the Alert. The Alert does not take the place of this message. 4. The Chief of Police will call the contact person listed on the request form prior to activation for final verification of the authenticity of the incident and request. 5. Updates to the information on the original form may be submitted, as necessary, on additional forms. If new information conflicts with previously submitted information, clearly indicate which information is correct. A new activation and broadcast can be done upon receipt of information at the Chief of Police. Updated broadcasts should be requested only when the new or revised information is substantial and is likely to enhance the public’s ability to provide useful assistance in locating the child. Page -7- Amber Alert Plan Virgin Islands Police Department 6. Photographs or digital images should be provided to the Chief of Police as soon as available for the creation and transmission of a VIPD Amber Alert Photo Supplement. Digital images should be submitted in a usable format. 7. In the event the child is recovered or the case is determined to not longer qualify (i.e. false report), immediately notify the to the Chief of Police who will access the situation and notify the Communications Section, law enforcement agencies, and the media so that cancellations may be broadcasted. SUMMARY Our goal is to protect every child with one of the most brilliant ideas yet devised in the battle to recover kidnapped children. The Amber Alert system should be enthusiastically embraced, supported and promoted whenever possible. The success of the program depends on the commitment of the key players: law enforcement, the media and public. Needless to say, the Virgin Islands Police Department is committed to the program and encourage all local law enforcement agencies to be active participants. Page -8- VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response Law Enforcement Activation Forms U.S.VRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT AMBER ALERT AUTHORIZATION TO PUBLICIZE MISSING CHILD INFORMATION NAME: Last:__________________________ First:____________________ Middle:______________ [ ] Male [ ] Female Race:____________________ Date of Birth:__________________ Address:____________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ The undersigned parent/guardian of ___________________________________ hereby requests that information (including photographs) pertinent to the disappearance of the above name child and deemed appropriate for release by the law enforcement agency responsible for investigation of said disappearance be published and/or circulated by any method subscribed to by the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department Criminal Investigation Bureau. I understand this information will be made available to the public, media, other law enforcement agencies, hospitals, social service agencies, shelters, medical examiners and/or other agencies or organizations involved with missing persons. I understand and agree that any or all information supplied by me shall be truthful and I agree to hold harmless any agency or department using, transmitting, or distributing this information for errors or omissions or commissions occasioned by information I may supply. I further agree that a photo static copy of this authorization shall have the same effect as the original. PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN INFORMATION NAME: Last:__________________________ First:_____________________ MI:________________ Home Address:____________________________________________ City:_______________________ State/Zip Code:_____________________________ Relationship to Child:________________________ Telephone#: (Home) (_ __)____________________ (Work) (_ __)___________________________ Signature:___________________________________________ Date:___________________________ **WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SIGNATURE, PLEASE PRINT ALL ENTRIES.** AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, FORWARD AT LEAST ONE PHOTOGRAPH (TAKEN WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, HEAD AND SHOULDERS ONLY, NAME AND DATE TAKEN MARKED ON THE BACK) OF THE MISSING CHILD. DEPARTMENT REPORT # ______________________ VIPD # U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT AMBER ALERT! NOTIFICATION SYSTEM FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION PACKET DATE: _____________________________ TO: VIPD CHIEF OF POLICE TELEPHONE #: _____________________________________ FAX #: ____________________________________________ EMAIL: ____________________________________________ FROM: DEPARTMENT _____________________________________ CONTACT _________________________________________ TELEPHONE #: _____________________________________ FACSIMILE #: ______________________________________ SUBJECT: ALERT CHILD ENDANGERMENT / ABDUCTION EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION If you have any questions regarding this transmission, please call the sender at the telephone number listed above. This facsimile contains CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION that may also be legally privileged and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. Unauthorized disclosure or dissemination may be prohibited by local and/or federal statutes. If you have received this communication in error, please call the sender at the telephone # listed above. (To be completed by the Officer-in-Charge & sent to the Chief of Police) U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department Amber Alert! System Initial Reporting Form Section 1 – ID/Time/Location Full Name of Missing Child: __________________________________________ Area Child Was Last Seen: ___________________________________________ District Where Child Was Last Seen: ___________________________________ Exact Time Child Was Last Seen: _______________________________________ Exact Address Where Child Was Last Seen: _______________________________ Known Landmarks at or Near Location Where Child Was Last Seen: ___________ __________________________________________________________________ Last Known Direction of Travel (Include # &/or Street Name): ______________ __________________________________________________________________ Section 2 – Threat of Imminent Danger Is the Missing Child Believed to be in imminent Danger? ___________________ Is There Evidence the Child Was Abducted? _____________________________ Section 3 – Personal Information & Description Race or Ethnicity of Missing Child: ________________ Male/Female: _________ Color & Style of Hair: _________________________ Color of Eyes: __________ DOB: ____________________ Complexion: ______________________________ Height: ___________________ Weight: _________________________________ Description of Clothing Child Was Last Seen Wearing (& Personal Items in Possession of Child): ________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Section 4 – Supplemental Name & DOB of Individual Who May Be With Missing Child: ______________________________________ Description of Individual Who May Be With Missing Child: ___________________________________________ Description of Vehicle Being Driven by Individual Who May Be With Missing Child: _____________________________ Name of VIPD Officer or Other Law Enforcement Officer Making Request for Alert Activation: ____________________________________ Name of Authorizing Agency Head: _____________________________________ Signature of Authorized Agency Head: ___________________________________ 24/7 Telephone Number for Call Back From Public: ________________________ Forward Completed Form To: VIPD Chief of Police St. Thomas St. John Water Island St. Croix Telephone Number: FAX Number: EMAIL Address: For Use By VIPD Chief of Police Responding VIPD Officer: _____________________________________________ Log Time of Initial Alert: _______________________________________________ Officer-in-Charge Authorizing Activation of Alert: ____________________________ Log Time of Alert Activation: ____________________________________________ VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response Amber Alert Plan