Police Agencies: If you have a Child Abduction go to this website
for the latest submission form and information

http://www.attygen.state.ut.us/AL/amberalert.htm

Parents: If your child is abducted, call 911, or
your local police department immediately for assistance.

UTAH'S RACHAEL ALERT IS NOW CALLED
  AMBER ALERT

Utah's Rachael Alert is now going to be known as the AMBER Alert. The name change is taking place to avoid any confusion between the statewide child abduction alert and the National AMBER Alert. The national and state plans send an emergency alert to the public when a child has been abducted and it is believed the child's life is in grave danger.

When Utah launched the Rachael Alert in early 2002 it was the ninth state to have a statewide plan. Today over 40 states have a statewide program and now 36 states are using the name AMBER Alert. "We can't have any confusion when we are trying to save an abducted child," says Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. "The public, law enforcement officers and broadcasters need to be crystal clear about what needs to be done when an AMBER Alert goes out."

The child abduction alert was originally called the Rachael Alert to honor Rachael Marie Runyan-a three-year-old Sunset girl who was kidnapped and murdered in 1982. Utah will now recognize this young victim with the Rachael Runyan Award.

"This award is to be given to citizens who make the call and help find the perpetrator and missing child," says Elaine Runyan-Simmons, Rachael's mother. "This award will allow us to continue honoring the work done in behalf of Rachael for missing children."  When Utah's AMBER Alert Plan is activated, law enforcement agencies have a number of resources to publicize urgent information about child abductions:

     * The Emergency Alert System interrupts radio and TV programming
     * Electronic highway and business signs will show alerts and suspect's vehicle info
     * Highway advisory radio transmitters and travel phone line (511) includes alerts 
     * The Bureau of Criminal Identification sends more than 9,000 flyers
     * Regional dispatchers notifies law enforcement agencies within their jurisdiction
     * Ports of Entry informs all of their officers
     * The Utah Trucking Association contacts all of their agents in the field
     * Commuterlink and America Online notifies customers requesting alerts by e-mail 
     * The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is contacted

Utah issued its first alert when Elizabeth Smart was abducted on June 5, 2002. The public was able to help in her safe recovery nine months later. The kidnapping prompted the victim's father, Ed Smart, to become a passionate advocate for a national child abduction alert system. His efforts were instrumental in persuading Congress to pass the national AMBER Alert bill last night.

Utah's second alert was issued on January 29 after Jennifer Tripplett reported that her three-month-old son Nicholas had been taken. Investigators were flooded with tips and the Salt Lake City Police Department recovered the baby less than five hours after the alert went out.

The public can learn more about the AMBER Alert at the Attorney General's web site at http://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/AL/amberalert.htm. People can also sign up to receive alerts on their computers and pagers at http://commuterlink.utah.gov/ie.htm

How Amber Alert (Formerly called Rachael Runyan Alert) started in UTAH
Chiefs of Police and Sheriff’s from throughout the state met on March 27, 2002 in St. George and voted to adopt a new statewide alert program aimed at preventing child abduction. Called "Rachael Alert", the program is modeled after a similar program started in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area in 1996 after the abduction and murder of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman.

Rachael and her brothers were playing in the park directly behind their Sunset, Utah home in August of 1982. A man approached the children offering them candy and gum. Rachael followed him to a parked car and was never seen alive again. Her body was found 21-days later in a stream in Morgan County. The cause of death was never determined and her killer remains at large.

The Rachael Alert program will see unprecedented cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and radio and television stations, through the Utah Broadcasters Association, to establish the immediate distribution of information about area child abductions. When child abduction occurs anywhere in Utah, local law enforcement will immediately notify all Utah radio and television stations, which will in turn, broadcast a description of the suspect and the victim.

The following criteria must be met before law enforcement activates the "Alert":
(1) The incident is believed to be a non-custodial abduction.
(2) The child is 17 years of age or younger, or has a proven physical or mental disability.
(3) There is evidence the child is in danger of serious bodily harm or death.
(4) There is sufficient information available to give out to the public that could assist in the safe recovery of the victim and/or the apprehension of a suspect.

For further information contact: Kal Farr, Executive Director, UCOPA (801) 492-7650; or
Dale Zabriskie, Utah Broadcasters Association, (801) 484-7272, or check out additional information at the Utah Attorney General's website