DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

AMBER ALERT PLAN

America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency

Response

For the District of Columbia Broadcast Area

Prepared by the
District Department of Transportation
In cooperation with the
Metropolitan Police Department, DC
Emergency Management Agency
Broadcasters Association
May 2005
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Background…….…………………………………………………………… 2

II. Statement of Purpose……………………………………………………… 2

III. Secondary Components of the AMBER Alert System…………………. 3
• Coordinating Law Enforcement Agency…………………………. 3
• DC’s AMBER Alert Plan Advisory Board……………………….. 3
• Advisory Board Responsibilities and Procedures……….…….. 4
IV. Activation of the DC AMBER Plan……….………………………….….. 4
V. Definitions…..……………………………………………………………. . 6
VI. Emergency Management Agency Procedures………………………… 7
VII. District Department of Transportation Procedures……………………. 8
VIII. Broadcasters Procedures………………………………………………. 9
VIX. Cancellation of the Alert/Locating the Child………………………..…. 14
X. Activation Request Form……………………….……………………….. 15
XI. DC Law Enforcement Agencies…………………………………………. 18
XII. DC AMBER Plan Check Sheet/Reporting Law
Enforcement Guidelines………………………………….…………….… 19
XIII. DC AMBER Plan Check Sheet/EAS Broadcasters……………….……. 20
XIV. Stakeholders Telephone Numbers…………………………………….… 21

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I. BACKGROUND
Amber Hagerman, a nine-year-old from Arlington, Texas, was abducted in 1996
while innocently riding her bicycle. Her body was found four days later. In
response to community concern following this tragedy, the Association of Radio
Managers with the assistance of area law enforcement in Arlington, Texas, created
the “AMBER Plan.” Named for Amber Hagerman, AMBER stands for America’s
Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response”

Under the Plan, radio and television stations volunteer to immediately interrupt
programming to broadcast information about a child abduction by using the EAS, a
system typically used for weather or other civil emergencies. Since the AMBER
Plan was established in Texas, many areas across the country have adopted a
similar emergency alert plan on the local, regional, or statewide level. The plan is
simple -- to alert the public as quickly as possible to a child abduction in hopes of
gaining information which will lead to the safe recovery of that child and the
capture of the abductor. Between 1996 and 2004, AMBER Alerts have been
credited with the safe return of hundreds of children.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has endorsed
the use of the AMBER Plan as used in Texas to assist in the most serious child
abduction cases and is promoting the use of such emergency alert plans
nationwide. The NCMEC has carefully assessed all current plans in use around the
country and has developed a guidebook entitled “AMBER Alert, America’s Missing
Broadcast Emergency Response.”

II. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Sadly, more than 2,000 children are reported missing every day across America.
Tragically, many of these children are never returned to their families, and many
are victims of assault and murder. A 1997 study by the Washington State’s
Attorney General indicated that 74% of children abducted and murdered by
strangers were killed within three hours of being abducted.

Realizing that time is of the essence in these cases, Law Enforcement agencies
across the United States agree that the abduction of a child is of the highest
priority for response and investigation. In furtherance of this type of investigation, a
carefully planned and quick notification to the public by the dissemination of
information to commercial broadcast stations is paramount.
The broadcast media voluntarily provide their valuable airtime to inform the public
that a child has been abducted in the belief that such information is in the best
interest of the community.

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During child abduction emergencies, the broadcast media are the conduit between
law enforcement officials and the public in making sure that the most timely and
accurate information possible quickly reaches the intended audience. Broadcasters
are among the first responders, those who transmit the early, rapid AMBER Alerts,
giving citizens the basic information that will allow them to aid in the successful
recovery of abducted children.

The broadcast stations upon receipt of an AMBER activation will provide

announcements and bulletins to the public.

It has been proven that the “AMBER Plan”, is a valuable tool in the recovery of
abducted children.

The purpose of the DC AMBER Plan is for the Metropolitan Police Department,
DC, which is the principal Law Enforcement agency, the US Park Police and the
United States Capitol Police, to collaborate with area broadcasters in child
abduction investigations for the safe and swift return of our children.
Going beyond the traditional methods of facsimile and Teletype, this Plan includes
the use of Internet technology supported by a secure satellite communications
system called EMnet, as well as Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) and other traveler
information systems to rapidly distribute the information. The DC AMBER plan is
designed to integrate with evolving Statewide plans in Virginia and Maryland.

III. SECONDARY COMPONENTS OF THE AMBER

ALERT SYSTEM
Public Utilities Communications Systems
Notification of the major public utilities within the District of Columbia, which have
communications systems capable of notifying their field employees when the
District’s AMBER Alert Plan is activated. These utilities include PEPCO, WASA,
Verizon, Metro Transit and Washington Gas.

District of Columbia’s AMBER Alert Plan Advisory Board

The District’s AMBER Alert Plan should receive guidance from an Advisory Board
consisting of seven members. These members should represent the Metropolitan
Police Department, DC Emergency Management Agency, District Department of
Transportation, the United States Park Police, the United States Capitol Police and
two individuals from the MDCD Broadcasters Association (one member
representing radio, and one member representing television broadcasters.)

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Advisory Board Responsibilities and Procedures

The Advisory Board (referred to as the “Board”) shall convene quarterly to review
the District’s AMBER Alert Plan. The Board shall review all regional plans to
ensure:

1. Each Plan contains criteria, which are not in conflict with the District’s
AMBER Alert Plan.

The Board shall also meet, within two weeks “after” the activation of each
AMBER Alert to review activities to ensure all procedures were followed.

IV. ACTIVATION OF THE DC AMBER PLAN

The District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department (MPDC) is the principal

Law Enforcement agency in DC and shall act as the lead agency in the
coordination and activation of the DC AMBER Plan. All other Police Agencies in
DC, i.e. US Park, Federal Protective and the United States Capitol Police, etc.
shall coordinate and make all requests to the MPDC for the activation of the
AMBER Alert Plan.

The Metropolitan Police Department, DC (MPDC) can only set activation of the
AMBER Alert Plan in motion for the District of Columbia (DC). All other police
agencies in the District of Columbia making requests for the activation, MUST
contact the DC Metropolitan Police Department’s on duty AMBER Coordinator who
will confirm that an alleged abduction meets the investigative criteria for an
AMBER Alert activation. Only when the AMBER Alert Administrator (Commander
of the Youth and Preventive Services Division) via the AMBER Alert coordinator,
agrees with the investigating officer, may an alert be issued by the Metropolitan
Police Department, DC.

The MPDC AMBER Alert Coordinator shall verify that:

1.) The abducted child must be 17 years of age or younger, and the law
enforcement agency believes the child has been abducted (unwillingly taken from
their environment without permission from the child’s parent or legal guardian).

Child abduction by a non-custodial parent is not a case that would routinely meet
the DC AMBER plan criteria. Unless the investigating agency can articulate a
reasonable suspicion that the parent intends to physically harm the child.

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2.) The law enforcement agency believes the abducted child is in imminent
danger of serious bodily harm or death.
3.) A law enforcement investigation has taken place that verified the abduction
(i.e., eyewitness account) or eliminated alternative explanations;
4.) There must be sufficient information about the child; abductor and / or
suspect to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the child,
suspect, and/or the suspect’s vehicle;
5.) The abductor and/or child are likely to still be in the broadcast area;
6.) The reporting agency provides the incident report number to the
Metropolitan Police Department, DC’s AMBER Coordinator;
7.) The Child must be entered in the Washington Area Law Enforcement
System (WALES) and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).

After an abduction is confirmed, and the investigating officer’s report has been
entered into the N.C.I.C. System and the W.A.L.E.S. System, the AMBER Alert
Coordinator shall activate the AMBER Alert. By immediately entering the child
abduction emergency (CAE) information into the Emergency Management Network
(EMnet) system, and the Internet web site www.DCAmberplan.com. this
concurrently notifies the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and
the FBI.

The MPDC AMBER Coordinator shall also requests that the:

1.) DC Emergency Management Agency assist him in the activation of the

AMBER Alert for a CAE – Child Abduction Emergency - code broadcast
to the District of Columbia broadcast stations that are part of the DC’s
EAS Plan via the EMnet system.

The AMBER Coordinator shall further provide the EMA with an electronic
request with all information that he is requesting to be disseminated by
the EMA and subsequently distributed to the District Department of

2.) Upon activation of an AMBER ALERT, the District Department of

Transportation’s (DDOT), Traffic Management Center (TMC) shall activate
the Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) and Highway Advisory Radio (HAR)
system.

The AMBER Coordinator shall provide the DDOT with an electronic

request with all information that he is requesting to be disseminated.

DDOT’s TMC shall display pertinent information on the DMS signs and
immediately contact the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
(WMATA), Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and the
Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Operations Centers and
provide them with the AMBER information.

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 3.) The AMBER Coordinator shall request additional notifications be made
through the Regional Incident Coordination Communications System (RICCS)
or other text messaging systems by the DCEMA.

Through Memorandums of Understanding (MOU), the MPDC AMBER Coordinator

may send information to secondary distributors, i.e. AOL to alert its subscribers,
the Maryland and/or the Virginia State Police Headquarters AMBER Coordinators,
who are the state points of contact for the coordination of all AMBER activations in
their states.

If a DC AMBER Alert is not received via the EMnet system or its web site, it should
not be considered valid.

V. DEFINITIONS
Abduction - A child is reported to be involuntarily missing from the person(s) having
care-taking responsibilities if an eyewitness states that the child was taken by a
person or persons for whom there are a physical description, a vehicle description
(if one is involved), and a direction of travel from the point last seen. Lacking an
eyewitness, there MUST exists articulable evidence that the child’s disappearance
was not voluntary.

Child - A person 17 years of age or younger*, and the subject of a missing

person's report filed with a law enforcement agency in the District of Columbia and
whose whereabouts are unknown.

*Particular consideration must be given when a child between the ages of 15 and
17 are reported missing as to their own behavior or mental capacity in some way
contributing to the criminal activity. A child under 14 cannot legally give consent for
any action and therefore that age group should be considered more at risk.

Broadcast to the Public

Stations will activate the AMBER alert to the public. After being notified by MPDC
the media outlets may go to the website www.DCAMBERplan.com to verify and/or
retrieve a text of the alert. The broadcast will include a unique to child abductions,
and the alert should begin with the phrase:

“This is a Child Abduction Alert – please stand by for

important information.”

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The AMBER Alert shall include the following:

1. A child has been abducted.

2. Where the abduction took place.
3. A description of the child, to include name, age, gender, and physical
descriptors.
4. A description of the abductor, and gender.
5. A description of the vehicle involved.
6. The last known direction of travel of the suspect vehicle.
7. Instructions for the public to contact 911 with any information.

As programming permits, participating broadcasters may broadcast this alert four

times per hour for the first two hours after the initial alert, continuing with three
times per hour for the next three hours. The alert should conclude with a
statement that person(s) who may locate the abductor should take no action other
than to call 911 as soon as possible and provide law enforcement with the location.
Updated alerts may be broadcast if significant new information that may result in
the location of the abductor and/or the child has been developed, or if they have
been found within 24 hours.

Once the first five hours have passed, the broadcasters may provide updated
alerts for the next seven hours, (not to exceed 12 hours), if significant new
information received may result in the location of the abductor, and/or the child, or,
if within 24 hours, the child is found.

If within 24 hours the child is not found, the alert is self-canceling. If the
cancellation resulted from investigative findings, contrary to the initial reported
information, the reason for the cancellation shall be disseminated.

(Disclaimer: Unless otherwise negotiated with Law Enforcement and

Broadcasters.)
The decision to rebroadcast the AMBER Alert information will be left up to each
individual broadcasting station and is completely voluntary.

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) shall display information about

the alert on Dynamic Message Signs and Highway Advisory Radio.

VI. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES

The District of Columbia Emergency Management Agency (DCEMA) serves as the
District of Columbia’s single point of contact for the District of Columbia’s
Emergency Alert Plan (EAS) as mandated by the District Emergency Response
Plan and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

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The DCEMA shall serve as the backup input point for the MPDC for the transmittal
of the information to the broadcasters via the EMnet system or other systems that
are part of the DC EAS plan.

The DCEMA shall assist the MPDC in the dissemination of the AMBER Alert
information via the following:

• Washington Area Warning System (WAWAS) segment of the

National Warning System (NAWAS)
• The Citizens Alert System
• The City Wide 800 MHz radio system to other agencies using the
system
• The Roam Secure Alert Network information system
• Pagers, Cell Phones and E-mail Systems
• EMnet

VII. DISTRICT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

PROCEDURES

The District Department of Transportation maintains a 24/7 Traffic Management

Center (TMC).

Only the Metropolitan Police Department’s, DC AMBER Alert Coordinator will

notify, electronically, the District Department of Transportation, Traffic
Management Center, to activate Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) and Highway
Advisory Radio (HAR) upon confirmation of a child abduction alert. DDOT’s TMC
shall disseminate information via:

• Pagers, Nextel cell phones and radios, text messages, fax and E-
mail systems
• Washington Area Warning System (WAWAS)
• The City Wide 800 MHz radio system through DCEMA
• EMnet

1. The TMC Lead Supervisor and/or designee(s) will immediately contact

MPDC and reconfirm the details of the AMBER Alert; The TMC Supervisor
and/or designee(s) shall go to the website www.DCAMBERplan.com to
verify the activation of an AMBER Alert.

2. Once confirmation is complete, the TMC Lead Supervisor and/or

designee(s) will immediately activate the Dynamic Message Signs (DMS)
with the appropriate message display; DMS’s shall at a minimum display the

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 following information; Child AMBER Alert ***Vehicle Description ***Call 911
with Information.

3. Information shall be displayed for the first two hours after the initial alert.
Information may be displayed for a longer period of time.

4. Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) stations shall also be programmed with all
the details of the alert and shall conclude with the statement that the
person(s) who may locate the abductor should not take any action other
than to call 911 with the information. A TMC Lead Supervisor and/or
designee(s) will program and activate the HAR Traffic Advisory Trailer
System;

5. The TMC Lead Supervisor and/or designee(s) shall notify via phone, fax,
text message and/or pager, VDOT, MDOT, WMATA Operations Centers
and local utility companies (PEPCO, Verizon, WASA and Washington Gas)
of a DC AMBER Alert activation;

6. The TMC Lead Supervisor and / or designee (s) shall monitor the AMBER
Alert activation for the duration of the event. TMC personnel shall monitor
CCTV cameras for child abductor vehicle.

7. The TMC Lead Supervisor and/or designee(s) will notify via test message
key DDOT management personnel of the activation of an AMBER Alert;

8. Deactivation/Termination of an AMBER Alert Dynamic Message Sign

display and/or a highway advisory radio broadcast will occur after an official
AMBER Alert termination is issued by MPDC;

VIII. BROADCASTERS PROCEDURES

Radio, Television and Cable TV Broadcasters

The role of DC-area broadcasters who volunteer to participate in the District’s

AMBER Plan is to relay AMBER Child Abduction Alerts to the listening and viewing
public as quickly as possible and as frequently as is practical. The broadcast
media voluntarily provide their valuable airtime to inform the public that a child has
been abducted in the belief that such information is in the best interest of the
community.

During child abduction emergencies, the broadcast media are the conduit between
law enforcement officials and the public in making sure that the most timely and
accurate information possible quickly reaches the intended audience. Broadcasters
are among the first responders, those who transmit the early, rapid AMBER Alerts,
giving citizens the basic information that will allow them to aid in the successful
recovery of abducted children.

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The critical role played by broadcast journalists in an early response does not
minimize the need for other media during AMBER Alert incidents. Cable
companies, newspapers, and specialty publications also play a vital role in
reaching all segments of the public. AMBER Alerts solicit the public’s eyes and
ears, and all media, regardless of audience or geographical reach, can help enlist
the public’s participation when a child is abducted. Consequently, all forms of
media are important and needed.

In order to ensure confidence in the AMBER Alert, everyone in the partnership

agrees to the following:

• Law enforcement will request an AMBER Alert activation to alert the

public only when all established criteria for an Alert have been met;
• Law enforcement officials will provide complete, thorough information
that is not legally prohibited and does not jeopardize the integrity of an
investigation;
• Law enforcement officials recognize that broadcasters have a
responsibility to the public to provide accurate thorough information;
• Law enforcement officials will quickly terminate an AMBER Alert when
the threat is no longer imminent or apparent;
• News staffs at other broadcast stations, cable outlets, and newspapers
will be able to obtain the same immediate information for dissemination
purposes.
• The AMBER Alert message will include a phone number for the public to
call;
• Law enforcement and other authorities, such as 911 centers, will provide
a method for handling the tips and inquiries called in to the phone
number once an AMBER Alert has been activated;
• Selective activation of Alerts will protect the integrity of the AMBER Alert
system by reducing the risk that the public will become desensitized or
misled by such alerts by preventing false or other misleading
transmission of information to the media. The system for protection
includes privileged activation transmissions using a secure, satellite-
based delivery system among plan partners;
• Activation of an AMBER Alert will not prevent news organizations,
including stations airing AMBER Alerts, from using Alert information for
legitimate news purposes;
• Information gleaned by legitimate news operations but not provided in
the AMBER Alert announcement will be disseminated to the public in
normal news reports; nothing will be added to the EAS AMBER Alert
message.
• Law enforcement will facilitate making information available to media,
other law enforcement, (i.e., NCIC, NCMEC, state clearinghouses,
LEADS, etc.) and secondary distributors BEFORE asking for the Alert.

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 • Law enforcement and broadcasters will agree to make equipment, time
and personnel available for periodic tests of the system used for
broadcasting the alert.

Once the case information has been entered into the appropriate systems, the
MPD AMBER Alert Coordinator will inform the DC Emergency Management
Agency electronically that an AMBER Alert is being issued. This communication
will contain all relevant information that should be disseminated by EMA.

Once the information is received and verified by EMA, it will be distributed via the
EMnet system to local broadcast media and the DC Department of Transportation.

If the AMBER Child Abduction Alert is not issued via EMnet or

www.DCAMBERPlan.com, it should not be considered valid.

Media outlets in the District of Columbia will receive all details of the AMBER Child
Abduction Alert via the EMnet system. This information can be verified by the
media (and the public at large) at www.DCAMBERplan.com, however verification
on the web site is not required for broadcasters to issue the AMBER Alert once it
has been received through EMnet. The information received through EMnet by
itself may be considered authentic and complete.

Upon receipt of the AMBER Alert from MPD, broadcasters will interrupt normal
programming to advise the public of the Alert and to provide the relevant
information which may aid in identifying the suspect, abducted child or the vehicle.
The broadcast should begin with the phrase:

“This is an AMBER Child Abduction Alert – please stand

by for important information.”

The alert shall include the following:

• A child has been abducted.
• When and where the abduction took place;
• A description of the child, including name, age, sex, height, weight,
birthmarks, hair color, eye color, clothing, and other physical information.
• A description of the suspected abductor, including name, age, sex, height,
weight, birthmarks, hair color, eye color, clothing, and other physical
information.
• A description of the vehicle involved (if there is one), including make, model,
color, year, license tag and state of issuance (if known).
• The last known direction of travel of the suspect vehicle.
• Instructions for the public to contact 911 with any information.

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 In addition, the following information may be included if known, and if
transmitted as part of the Alert information:

• Roads and highways believed to be used by the suspect;

• Other transportation methods, such as taxi, bus, train, or airplane, which
the suspect may use;
• Town, community, or state where the suspect and abducted child may
be traveling;
• Confirmation that law enforcement believes the child to be in imminent
danger;
• Reasons WHY law enforcement believes child to be in danger, reasons
WHY law enforcement believes suspect is traveling to a certain
destination or via certain route;
• Nothing will be added to the AMBER Alert message as received through
EMnet.

The alert should conclude with a statement that person(s) who may locate the
abductor should take no action other than to call 911 as soon as possible and
provide law enforcement with the location.

Broadcast media representatives understand the power of words and the

consequences of their indiscriminate use. As such, AMBER Alert messages must
be carefully constructed to avoid using any word or phrase that might possibly
alienate someone who might otherwise help. Particular care should be given to any
mention of the following:

• Race or nationality (unless pertinent to a physical description);

• Physical or mental disabilities (unless pertinent to a physical
description);
• Sexual preference (except where applicable, such as being listed on a
State sex offender registry);
• Political affiliation;
• Religious preference;
• Other sensitive information that has no bearing on locating an abducted
child.

As programming permits, participating media are encouraged to broadcast this

alert four times per hour for the first two hours after the initial alert, and three times
per hour for the next three hours. Updated alerts may be broadcast if significant
new information that may result in the location of the abductor and/or the child has
been developed, or if the alert is terminated.

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Once the first five hours have passed, broadcasters may provide updated alerts for
the next seven hours if significant new information is received which may result in
the discovery of the child or abductor or, if within 24 hours, the child is found. No
alerts need to be broadcast more than 12 hours following the abduction.

If within 24 hours the child is not found, the alert is self-canceling. If the criteria are
met (as set forth below) for canceling an Alert before 24 hours have elapsed,
broadcasters are free not only to stop broadcasting the Alert, but to inform the
public that the Alert has been canceled and why. In particular, if the cancellation
resulted from investigative findings contrary to the initial reported information, the
reason for the cancellation may be disseminated unless otherwise negotiated with
MPDC.

The decision to rebroadcast the AMBER Alert information will be left up to each
individual broadcasting station and is completely voluntary.

In consideration for their voluntary assistance, the broadcast media expect:

• An Alert will be terminated immediately as soon as it has been
determined that the announcement is no longer needed;
• An Alert will be issued based only on the criteria set forth in the DC
AMBER Plan;
• Contact between broadcasters and law enforcement officials must be
continuous;
• Law enforcement will respect the decision of broadcasters, not to air, or
to delay airing, because of factors such as lack of proximity of the
AMBER event to the station, the action of other stations in the market
airing the Alert and programming concerns (e.g. sensitivity to children
listening or watching, contractual obligations requiring the station to
present programs uninterrupted [sports, etc.], availability of staff;
• The broadcast media will do their best to accommodate law enforcement
requests for issuing AMBER Alerts, and that the media and law
enforcement will work out ways to air alerts that do not conflict with
contractual obligations (e.g., using crawls at the bottom of screens);
• The FCC requires stations to retain decision-making authority over
material aired on their station.

It is critical that the lines of communication between broadcasters and MPDC

officials be kept open at all times. The safe return of children must remain the
paramount concern and focus. Contact should be made to the MPDC’s AMBER
Alert Coordinator, Captain Burt Henry, or his designee, at (202) 576-6766.

The termination of an AMBER Alert in a timely manner is critical to the system’s

ability to retain its credibility. Media broadcasts and DCMS advisories that
continue after an Alert is no longer needed will desensitize the public to their
message or worse, erode the public’s confidence that the system works.

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VIX. CANCELLATION OF THE ALERT/LOCATING
THE CHILD
• Updates shall be provided to the MPDC by the investigating police agency.
• The investigating agency must notify immediately the MPDC regarding the
termination of the Alert.
• After the termination of the DC AMBER Alert, any updates may continue to
be made by the MPDC Public Information Office.

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 X. District of Columbia AMBER Plan

ACTIVATION REQUEST

Date/Time Rec: Date/Time Approved:

Date/Time DCMPD Rec: Date/Time Disapproved:

Initiating Agency
Department

Point of Contact

Telephone Number

Pager Number

Cell Phone Number

Case Investigator

Case / CCN No.

Child Information
Child’s Name (F,M,L)
Child’s Gender (M,F)
Child’s Race
AGE and DOB:
Height and Weight
Eye Color
Hair Color
Clothing
Scars, Marks,
Tattoos

Abduction Information
Time of Abduction
Location of Abduction
Miscellaneous

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Suspect Information
Name
Sex and Race
Age and DOB:
Height and Weight
Eye Color
Hair Color and Style
Clothing
Scars, Marks, Tattoos
Location, Address

Suspect Vehicle
Year Make Model Color
Reg State Reg Number Date/Time Last Seen
District of ______________________________________________________
Columbia
AMBER Plan
Activation
Request (cont.)

Case Info:

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Reason for Disapproval:

Follow-Up:

Request Prepared By:

Review Approval/Disapproval – Name and Signature

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 XI.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

1. District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)

2. United States Park Police (USPP)

3. United States Capitol Police (USCP)

4. Other jurisdictions within the DC Broadcast area whose Law Enforcement

providers are eligible to participate in the AMBER Plan to their respective
State Police AMBER Coordinators who are their points of contact as
mandated in their respective state AMBER plans.

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 XII. AMBER PLAN CHECK SHEET

REPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

GUIDELINES

I. Child reported abducted – the decision to open a major case

investigation has been made by the investigating agency and the
following criteria exists:
• Law enforcement verifies that a child has been abducted;
• Law enforcement believes the circumstances surrounding the
abduction indicate the child is in serious danger of bodily harm or
death;
• There must be enough descriptive information about the child;
abductor and/or suspect’s vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast
alert would help.
• The abductor and/or child are likely to still be in the broadcast area.
• Non-custodial parental abduction without articulable reason to expect
physical injury does not meet DC’s AMBER Plan criteria.

II. Police agency decides to request activation of DC’s AMBER Plan.

III. Once an activation has been authenticated, MPDC becomes the lead
Agency.

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 XIII. DC AMBER PLAN CHECK SHEET
BROADCASTERS
I. Request received from lead police agency, MPDC for activation of
DC AMBER Alert.
• The information received through EMnet by itself may be
considered authentic and complete.

II. Activate the EMNet message

• Use the “Child Abduction Alert” – CAE code.
• Broadcast to all points.
o Always use the precursor “This is a Child Abduction
Alert – Please Stand By for Important Information.”
o Always end with the disclaimer “Citizens should take no
action other than calling the Police if they see the child or
suspect to report the location.”

III. Repeat the message through regular programming as scheduling

permits.

IV. Review the website www.DCAmberplan.com for additional

information and updates.
V. When a recovery is made within the first 24-hours, the alert will be
updated. Broadcast a message to all broadcast points canceling the
alert.

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 XIV. STAKEHOLDERS TELEPHONE

NUMBERS

• Metropolitan Police Department, DC (MPDC) Youth Investigation Branch

Contact may be made by:
Telephone: (202) 576-6768
Fax: (202) 576-6561

• Emergency Management Agency (EMA).

Contact may be made by:
Telephone: (202) 727-6161
Fax: (202) 673-7054

• District Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) Traffic Management

Center (TMC) 24/7
Contact may be made by:
Telephone: (202) 671-DDOT(3368)
Fax: (202) 671-1846

• Maryland-District of Columbia-Delaware (MDCD) Broadcasters

Association
Contact may be made by:
Telephone: (410) 653-4122
Fax: (410) 486-7354

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