Illinois has yet to use 'Amber Alert' system

CHICAGO -- Illinois has yet to use the "Amber Alert" system, which recently was issued in California to help authorities catch a man who kidnapped two teenage girls.\nState law enforcement officials say even though most police know of the Amber system, there has been little training or information available for patrol officers and investigators in Illinois who respond to child abductions.\nThe National Center for Missing and Exploited Children created AMBER, America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response, to notify citizens in the critical hours after a child is discovered kidnapped. It was named for Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old Texas girl who was kidnapped in 1996 and later found dead.\nThe system is intended only for the most critical cases, when police believe a child's life is in serious danger.\nSome police officials say it's good that Illinios hasn't used its system because it means there have been no abductions that meet the criteria, and local departments have good relationships with local news outlets.\nOthers contend more education is needed so police know the system is available.\nOak Lawn Division Chief Robert Smith said after watching last week's kidnapping in California, in which the girls were returned home, he is going to make certain all the officers at his department know about the program.\n"It's obviously a great system," Smith told the (Tinley Park) Daily Southtown. "After seeing it out there (in California), it is something everybody should be trained in and know about."\nSmith said Oak Lawn already has its equipment set up to send faxes or photos to area media quickly, but he said officers must be trained to think about AMBER when they begin a case.\nChicago police said they are not using the voluntary system because they already can alert Chicago radio and television media instantly if they need the public's help.\nHowever police administrators are evaluating the AMBER program and may decide later to use it, said Sgt. Robert Cargie.