If a child is reported missing in the area served by the Barrington-Inverness Police Department, hundreds of residents–up to 1,000 in the first 60 seconds–will get an urgent telephone call that starts like this:
“We are currently looking for a missing child in your area. This missing child’s name and description is,” followed by that information.
Developed by A CHILD Is Missing, a Florida-based non-profit group, the telephone system is offered free to law-enforcement agencies nationwide. Barrington-Inverness, which got the program last month, is one of 48 police departments participating statewide.
The Lisle Police Department recently used the call system to help find a 5-year-old autistic boy, officials said. It also can be used to launch a search for disabled adults.
Barrington-Inverness Deputy Chief John Edwards said that in the past, officers would go door-to-door to notify residents. The new system is more efficient, he said.
“We do have a case every now and then when a child goes out of the door and Mom and Dad are panicking, naturally, and it would be good to have this system,” he said.