Statewide Endangered Person Alert System Announced

(Phoenix, Ariz. – October 22, 2008) Attorney General Terry Goddard, Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Roger Vanderpool, and Art Brooks, President and CEO of the Arizona Broadcasters’ Association, today announced the creation of a new statewide public safety alert system.

The Arizona Endangered Person Alert system will notify the public when an adult suffering from a significant health problem or a medically-diagnosed disability (such as Alzheimer’s disease) goes missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.

“The Endangered Person Alert system will provide critical protections for Arizona’s vulnerable adults. This new statewide resource will provide greater security and peace of mind to families caring for loved ones with dementia and other serious health problems,” Goddard said. “I appreciate the partnership of the Department of Public Safety and the Arizona Broadcasters Association, which made this alert system possible.”

The alert is a voluntary collaboration between law enforcement and broadcasters statewide. It employs an existing DPS media notification system and therefore creates no additional costs to state or local agencies.

"This new alert procedure will expedite the recovery of missing adults. It provides clear criteria to law enforcement and gives broadcasters the tools to protect the most vulnerable members of their communities,” Brooks said.

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