HARRISBURG – In commemoration of National Amber Alert Awareness Day on Saturday, the Pennsylvania state police, as the administrator of the Pennsylvania Amber Alert System, recognizes the efforts of all of the Amber Alert stakeholders in Pennsylvania and their significant contributions to the success of the Pennsylvania Amber Alert System.
The state police issued the following statement:
“The efforts of these stakeholders in protecting the commonwealth’s children are sincerely appreciated. Since the inception of the Pennsylvania Amber Alert System on Feb. 20, 2002, the partnership has directly contributed to the safe recovery of 21 abducted children who were in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury.
“The Pennsylvania Amber Alert System is a cooperative effort of the stakeholder agencies. These stakeholder agencies are responsible for all aspects of the Amber Alert in Pennsylvania, including educating the public about the system, training law enforcement officers regarding the use of the system and recommending legislation which will safeguard the integrity of the system.
“During Amber Alert activations, these stakeholders are responsible for dissemination of Amber Alert information to the public through such means as radio and television broadcast messages, lottery retail terminals, highway advisory signs and radio, and e-mail distribution.
“Each stakeholder plays a key role with their respective agency or association and directly impacts the future of the Pennsylvania Amber Alert System. In that regard, all of the stakeholders and, indeed, all the residents and guests of Pennsylvania, are a part of the Amber Alert System. The continued success of the Pennsylvania Amber Alert System relies on these stakeholders and all the members of our Pennsylvania community.”
The Pennsylvania Amber Alert System stakeholders are the Pennsylvania state police, Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, Pennsylvania Lottery Commission, the Office of state Sen. Michael O’Pake, the Pennsylvania Cable and Telecommunications Association, the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.