BY CHIEF GARRET ATKIN

From the moment a report of a missing child is received, every minute matters and every action taken has the potential to make the difference between a successful recovery or a tragic outcome.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) developed the Missing Kids Readiness Program to promote law enforcement best practices for responding to calls of missing, abducted, and sexually exploited children. To become a member, and to meet the requirements of the Program, Syracuse Police Department worked with NCMEC to ensure its policy met the critical elements of NCMEC’s Law Enforcement Model Policy and Procedures for Reports of Missing and Abducted Children. Additionally, all sworn members completed various levels of training as required by NCMEC. Armed with the information, knowledge, and operational resources gained through meeting the Program’s requirements, Syracuse Police Department has dramatically improved its abilities to respond more quickly and effectively when a child’s life may be at stake.

According to NCMEC, Syracuse Police Department is one of only a handful of agencies in Utah that have met the high standards necessary to be a member of the Missing Kids Readiness Program. By demonstrating leadership and making a commitment to this advanced level of training and preparedness, we hope we have made our community proud and communicated that protecting the lives and safety of children is one of our top priorities.

To learn more about NCMEC and the Missing Kids Readiness Program, go to:
http://www.missingkids.org/education/training/mkrp