"Patterned after the AMBER Alert program for missing children, if the situation warrants, state or local police investigating the disappearance will contact the Maryland State Police Silver Alert coordinator. The Maryland Emergency Management Agency will request an emergency alert through all Maryland police departments, media outlets and 911 centers.
The State Highway Administration will post alert information, including a description of the person and the vehicle he was last seen in on overhead highway signs in the area where the missing person was last seen. Information may also be broadcast on the Highway Advisory Radio network.
The Silver Alert program is the result of legislation introduced in the Maryland General Assembly by Delegate Benjamin Kramer and Sen. Rona Kramer, both of Montgomery County.
“Our new Silver Alert program gives us a coordinated way to communicate information about a critically missing person quickly and to as many people as possible,” Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. Terrence Sheridan said.
“This alert system is designed to reunite families,” said Maryland Department of Human Resources Secretary Brenda Donald. “There are few things more disconcerting for a family than to have its elderly member go missing.”
In order for an alert to be issued, the following criteria must be met:
• The missing person must suffer from a cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia.
• The person’s disappearance must pose a true threat to his health and safety.
• The missing person must be traveling in a vehicle and there must be enough descriptive information about the person and the vehicle for police to issue an alert.
• The investigating police department has already activated a local alert by contacting media.
• The missing person has been entered into the National Crime Information Center database.
When a person goes missing and circumstances do not warrant a Silver Alert, law enforcement will still do everything possible to find the missing person.
The Maryland State Police will provide any assistance necessary for search and rescue operations. This will likely involve the deployment of K-9 units. State police bloodhound teams find dozens of missing persons each year, some of whom are senior citizens who have walked away and become lost.
Maryland State Police helicopters will also be available for search and rescue. They are equipped with infra-red cameras that help find people even in remote areas. State police also has specially trained search teams that can track people on foot in all types of terrain and surroundings."
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