MILWAUKEE – A new alert for missing children in Wisconsin is now active.
The hope is that this will fill in the gaps in the state's existing Amber Alert system that you may be used to.
What you need to know
- The new Missing Child Alert expands opportunities to alert the public to missing children who may not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert.
- Governor Tony Evers signed the Prince Act in April, named after 5-year-old Prince McCree, who went missing in Milwaukee, and 10-year-old Lily Peters, who went missing in Chippewa Falls.
- The Missing Child Alert is an extension of the existing Silver Alert system to include those who are unable to return home without assistance due to a physical or mental condition or disability.
It can be thought of as an extension of the existing Silver Alert system, which includes children not covered by an Amber Alert and has strict and specific guidelines, including descriptive information about the suspect.
The new category of missing child reports is more comprehensive and can be sent to mobile phones, Department of Transportation billboards and even state lottery terminals.
Governor Tony Evers signed the Prince Act in April following the disappearance and deaths of five-year-old Prince McCree in Milwaukee and ten-year-old Lily Peters of Chippewa Falls.
None of the children met the criteria for an Amber Alert.
“10-year-old Lily is missing, 5-year-old Prince. A country kid, a city kid. A Caucasian, an African-American. A lot of people think that urban and rural areas have absolutely nothing in common,” said Democratic state Senator LaTonya Johnson from Milwaukee. “This bill shows that it is so.”
Unlike an Amber Alert, the criteria for a Missing Child Alert are more comprehensive.
The person at risk must be under 18 years of age and unable to return home without assistance due to a physical or mental condition or disability, or the person must be under 10 years of age and meet these additional criteria:
- The person's whereabouts are unknown
- It is within 72 hours of the person's disappearance
- Your situation does not entitle you to a further tender
- The person was reported missing to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).
- There is enough information that can be made available to the public that could help in the search for the missing person.
“If you are within five miles of where a child was last seen before they went missing, you will receive the wireless emergency alert that many of us are familiar with,” Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul told reporters during a press conference Thursday. “We do the same thing with Silver Alerts when a senior citizen goes missing on foot.”
For Prince's parents, the new alarm message will always be a reminder of their son.
“My son always wanted to be a hero,” said Darron McCree. “He wanted to be Spiderman, and now his name saves lives, so he'll save lives forever. He'll always be a hero to everyone.”
The first missing person report was issued earlier this week for a child in Milwaukee who was brought home safely.
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