Commerce City Police go high tech in searching for missing children

COMMERCE CITY — Police Chief Philip J. Baca has formalized an agreement with the A Child Is Missing Alert Program that uses high-tech methods to search locally for missing children, elderly (often with Alzheimer’s), college students, and missing people who may be mentally or physically challenged or disabled.

To date the efforts of A Child Is Missing have been credited with finding more than 750 people. Commerce City’s participation in the alert program begins Wednesday, Dec. 1.

When a missing persons report is made, the Police Department will call the national headquarters of the A Child Is Missing Alert Program. Any call made to the alert program is answered 24 hours, seven days a week, 365 days a year by an information and mapping technician. The technician immediately initiates a rapid process of information gathering and dissemination using a sophisticated mapping systems. A Child Is Missing then makes potentially thousands of calls within minutes with an alert message detailing the missing person’s description, last known whereabouts, and pertinent information. This alert message will also include the phone number for the Police Department so anyone with information relating to the missing person can call.

Phone numbers that are called by this program include listed numbers and mobile numbers available to ACIM in the selected area. Mobile numbers, unlisted numbers, broadband/voice-over IP numbers, or TDD/TTY devices can be added to ensure they are called in the event of an alert. To enter your cell phone, unlisted, broadband/voice-over IP or TDD/TTY device number visit www.achildismissing.org and click on “add your name” to enter your name, number, and address. This information will only be used for emergency message alerts.