Texas AMBER, Blue, Silver & Endangered Missing Persons Alert Programs 2012 Texas Emergency Management Conference

SAM ALLEN AMBER, Blue, Silver & Endangered Missing Persons Alert Program Coordinator Texas Division of Emergency Management (512)

Page numbers will appear on the PowerPoint presentation indicating the corresponding page within the Handout. Be aware your Handout will have more information than what is covered during this Briefing. PAGE NUMBERS HANDOUT

Alert Options Texas Regional Programs AMBER Alert Blue Alert Silver Alert Endangered Missing Persons Alert State Network Operations Training Program BRIEFING STRUCTURE PRESENTATION ORDER

Law Enforcement Agency Issue the alert locally (media outlets etc.). Make a request to issue the alert through a regional network (if available). Make a request to issue the alert through the DPS State Network. LOCAL, REGIONAL & STATE ALERT OPTIONS

REGIONAL PROGRAMS HISTORY Existed before the State Network was created. Involves multiple cities/counties. Managed locally by a “coordinating agency”. Independent of the State Network. Criteria and operations could differ.

TX DPS WEBSITE AT

TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WEBSITE

Missing Entries for 1 Year (2011), in Texas: 46,808 = <17 yrs. TEXAS MISSING NCIC DATA

The Blue Alert Program enables the rapid statewide distribution of information related to offenders, who flee after killing or seriously injuring federal, state or local, law enforcement officers in the line of duty. BLUE ALERT PROGRAM (HISTORY) IMPLEMENTED AUGUST 2008

4 Peace Officers Killed Feloniously, in Texas for Year OFFICERS KILLED TEXAS UCR 2010 REPORT

In response to legislation enacted September 1, 2007, the Texas Department of Public Safety implemented the Silver Alert Network, designed to advise the public of missing senior citizens with documented mental impairments. SILVER ALERT PROGRAM (HISTORY) IMPLEMENTED SEPTEMBER 2007

On physician’s letterhead, indicating the impaired mental condition, date of diagnosis, patient’s name, with physician’s signature. Documentation can be faxed with the Silver Alert Request Form to the State Operations Center, Texas Division of Emergency Management. MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION SILVER ALERT STATE NETWORK

MEDICAL RELEASE LAW ENFORCEMENT Texas Code of Criminal Procedures Art Release of Medical Records

Missing Entries for 1 Year (2011), in Texas: 972 = >65 yrs. TEXAS MISSING NCIC DATA

In response to legislation enacted September 1, 2011, the Texas Department of Public Safety implemented the Endangered Missing Persons Network, designed to advise the public of missing persons with Intellectual Disabilities. ENDANGERED MISSING PERSONS PROGRAM (HISTORY) IMPLEMENTED SEPTEMBER 2011

AMBER ALERT LEGISLATION Sec SYSTEM NAME. The director by rule may assign a name other than the America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) to the alert system when the system is activated regarding a missing person with an intellectual disability. Sec ACTIVATION……….(a) the person has an intellectual disability, as determined according to the procedure provided by Section Health and Safety Code.

Sec DETERMINATION OF MENTAL RETARDATION (a) A physician or psychologist licensed to practice in this state or certified by the department shall perform the determination of mental retardation…………… TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE Note: The “department” is considered the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services and/or Texas Department of State Health Services (formerly known as the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation).

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION Upon requesting activation of the state’s Endangered Missing Persons Alert network, law enforcement must fax documentation to the State Operations Center (SOC) at DPS, supporting the missing person’s intellectual disability. Documentation shall be considered a diagnosis from a physician or psychologist licensed to practice within Texas, or certified by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services and/or Texas State Health Services.

STATE NETWORK OPERATIONS

Texas Department of Public Safety Headquarters in Austin, TX Requesting Law Enforcement Agency REQUEST PROCESS

1.Only law enforcement can request activation. 2.Fax the Request Form to the State Operations Center (SOC). 3.Contact the SOC to verify fax receipt. 4. applicable photos to the SOC. 5.Ensure entry of appropriate NCIC/TCIC records. REQUEST PROCEDURES

AMBER ALERTS ONLY

BEYONDMISSING.COM AMBER ALERTS ONLY

ACTIVATION AREA Activation area is based upon investigative information and could change during the alert. Activation is not always “statewide”.

TRAINING PROGRAM 1.ONLINE (Not yet available) 2.CLASSROOM