2002 - 09-16-02 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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u0;; 9 racE 09 RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA ADOPTING THE AMBER ALERT WARNING SYSTEM TO INFORM CITIZENS OF MISSING OR ABDUCTED CHILDREN WHEREAS, communities should implement an emergency alert plan such as AMBER (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Plan to expedite the recovery of abducted children; and WHEREAS, the goal of the AMBER Alert is to warn the community of a child abduction and to assist in the search and safe return of the child; and WHEREAS, the AMBER Plan, a partnership between law enforcement agencies and media officials, assists law enforcement, parents, and local communities to respond immediately to the most serious child abduction cases; and WHEREAS, just as in a storm emergency, when warnings are broadcast locally, under AMBER, radio and television stations, as a public service, interrupt programming with a critical message from law enforcement regarding the description of a missing child; WHEREAS, the AMBER Plan was created in 1996 in memory of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman who was kidnapped and murdered in Arlington, Texas; and WHEREAS, in response to community concern, the Association of Radio Managers, with the assistance of area law enforcement in Arlington, Texas, created the AMBER Plan; and WHEREAS, since the first few hours during which a child is missing are critical, the AMBER Plan helps the community respond quickly; and WHEREAS, the AMBER alert has already been adopted in l5 states and dozens of communities; and WHEREAS, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children endorses the AMBER Plan and is promoting the use of such emergency alert plans nationwide; and WHEREAS, the AMBER Plan is responsible for reuniting children with their searching parents. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Lee County Board of Commissioners respectfully requests that the General Assembly enact legislation to implement the AMBER Plan across North Carolina to aid in the search and safe return of abducted children. Adopted this the 16°i day of September 2002. t Herbert A. Hincks, Chairman Lee County Board of Commissioners