Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 20, 2003

Metro Transit Police participate in regional plan for child abduction notifications

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) has joined the regionwide DC AMBER Alert Plan. Lt. John Collier of the Prince William County Police Department and the regionwide coordinator of the plan made a presentation recently to the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD). In addition to hearing a presentation on the program, MTPD officials participated in an amber alert test via the plans’s secured Web site. " The AMBER Alert Plan has been so successful in other regions of the country that we are excited about incorporating this tool to defeat child abductions in our region," stated Metro Transit Chief of Police Polly Hanson. " Lt. Collier is the regionwide coordinator for agencies participating in this program, and we welcome the opportunity to work in partnership with him and the area’s law enforcement agencies and the media as we implement AMBER Alert in our system. It represents an excellent way for Metro and the communities it serves to get information out as quickly as possible if a child were to be abducted." Approximately 150 children a year are abducted in the United States. Since the AMBER Alert program in the region went into effect in July 2001, approximately four alerts have been issued. When MTPD investigates a reported child abduction, a qualifying alert may be posted on a secured Web site which will trigger regional media notifications over an emergency alert system. Metro will place AMBER Alert messages on PIDS (Passenger Information Display System) signs in each Metrorail station and provide the information to the Bus Operations Control Center for verbal or written notification to designated bus operators to be on the look-out for an abducted child. " Metro provides invaluable service to communities in the region, above and beyond the safe, reliable, and convenient transportation service provided each and every day," stated Metro CEO Richard A. White. " Participating in the AMBER Alert notification system is another way in which Metro and other organizations can act as stewards in the community by aiding the welfare of one of its most precious resources " its children."

News release issued on June 20, 2003.