Benton County Public Safety Agencies go High Tech To Search For Missing Persons

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office will begin using the system March 1st, after staff training has been completed.

(CORVALLIS) - Corvallis Police Chief Gary Boldizsar and Benton County Sheriff Diana Simpson have formalized an agreement with the “A Child Is Missing” alert program that has led to a high tech method now in place to aid in searches locally for missing children, missing elderly (often with Alzheimer’s), college students, and missing persons who may be mentally or physically challenged.

Effective February 1st, upon receipt of some missing persons calls; Corvallis police will make their first phone call to a toll-free number that rings in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The initial call, answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by a technician at “A Child is Missing,” initiates a rapid process of information gathering and sophisticated mapping systems.

ACIM then launches potentially thousands of phone calls within minutes with a customized recorded message detailing the missing person’s description and last known whereabouts.

The message will also include a Corvallis Police Department or Benton County Sheriff’s Office phone number to be called by anyone who has information regarding the location of the missing person.

Both public safety agencies plan to carefully evaluate each potential activation of the ACIM service to ensure that the application is appropriate to the situation and that the system is optimally utilized to help in emergency situations. Policies, procedures and employee training will also help guide efficient and effective use.

A Child Is Missing is a nationwide non-profit organization which helps public safety agencies locate missing children, missing elderly (often suffering from Alzheimer’s or other dementia), college students, and missing persons who are mentally or physically challenged.

A Child is Missing utilizes sophisticated computer mapping systems and trained technicians with the capacity to place thousands of customized-message phone calls in minutes to residents and businesses in the area where someone has gone missing.

To date the efforts of A Child Is Missing have been credited with 177 safe recoveries.

The telephone numbers called by A Child Is Missing do not include unlisted phones, TDD/TTY devices or cell phone numbers.

Benton County residents, including those who live in all cities in Benton County, may add their unlisted, TDD/TTY or cell phone numbers and address to the call database.