E AMBER H T SPRING 2018 THE FUTURE OF CHILD PROTECTION PAGE 3 IN THIS ISSUE: FACES OF THE AMBER ALERT NETWORK PAGE 6 AMBER ALERT ON THE FRONT LINES PAGE 8 SPRING 2018 | HEAMBER T IN THIS ISSUE: THE FUTURE OF CHILD PROTECTION ................ PAGE 3 FACES OF THE AMBER ALERT NETWORK ................ PAGE 6 ON THE FRONT LINES ................ PAGE 8 AMBER ALERT IN INDIAN COUNTRY ................ PAGE 10 AMBER ALERT INTERNATIONAL ................ PAGE 12 AMBER ALERT BRIEFS ................ PAGE 14 This publication was prepared under Cooperative Agreement number 2017-MC-FX-K003 from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view or opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of OJJDP or the U.S. Department of Justice. Your story ideas and pictures are welcome. AMBER Alert INFO: For AMBER Alert Training & Technical Assistance, EDITORS: contact: Paul Murphy, [email protected] Bonnie Davis, [email protected] Jim Walters, Program Administrator AMBER Alert Training & GRAPHIC LAYOUT: Technical Assistance Program Whitecap Interactive whitecap.io 877-71-AMBER [email protected] [email protected] Training & Technical Assistance Information: https://amberadvocate.org https://tribaldatabase.org 2 SPRING 2018 | HEAMBER T THE FUTURE OF CHILD PROTECTION AMBER ALERT TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR SHARES VISION FOR PROTECTING CHILDREN Jim Walters has accomplished a lot since be- the early hours of the investigation,” said Wal- coming AMBER Alert Training and Technical ters. “It took 56 days to track down that man Assistance Program (AATTAP) Administrator in and recover the three children. Those were 56 July 2014. Nearly 40 years in law enforcement of the longest days ever.” and the military has helped prepare him for the critical task at hand, and he is still driven to “I want to make sure investigators today have learn and do more to help endangered, missing the tools they need so they don’t make the mis- and abducted children. takes we did back then. And so those children can be recovered and brought home safely.” Walters remembers working as an investigator on an abduction case involving three children Under Jim Walters’ leadership, and through the taken by a known sexual predator. The case efforts of his AATTAP team, many important ac- occurred before the creation of the AMBER complishments have been realized. Alert system and before training was available • The Program is reaching increased numbers through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delin- of training participants at a lower cost by quency Prevention. partnering with local law enforcement agen- cies to host and market training brought to “Mistakes were made in that case that allowed their local areas by AATTAP. the perpetrator to slip through our fingers in Continued on page 4 Continued on page 4 SPRING 2018 | HEAMBER 3 T THE FUTURE OF CHILD PROTECTION Continued from page 3 • A Tribal Database website provides both publicly- available and secure/cre- dentialed information and resources to tribal commu- nities and law enforcement to support development of comprehensive child pro- tection and recovery strate- gies. • The AMBER Advocate web- site provides a vast array of public information and re- sources, as well as a secure/ credentialed Partners Portal for collaboration amongst state AMBER Alert Coor- dinators, Missing Person Clearinghouse Managers and Child Abduction Re- sponse Team (CART) mem- EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING bers (AMBERAdvocate.org). • More than 45 new families of missing, Walters plans to develop and deliver onsite exploited and abducted children have evidence-based training to improve the joined with AATTAP to participate in a speed and effectiveness of law enforce- series of Family and Survivor Roundtable ment’s response in the following case types. events, giving them a voice to share criti- • Missing, abducted and endangered chil- cally important information on their ex- dren periences, lessons learned and needed • Child trafficking training for first responders, investiga- • Endangered high-risk youth tors and prosecutors about working with • Special populations of children at-risk, families in the aftermath of an abduc- including at-risk children in tribal com- tion. munities • New 1-2 day workshops have been de- veloped, providing participants with the “The key here is evidence-based training,” targeted and specific skills they need in said Walters. “We want to be sure that what an efficient yet thorough manner. we are teaching represents the best practic- es, best tactics and techniques for respond- Never tiring in these pursuits, Walters is ing to these threats against children.” committed to continuing work in these areas, and has set new goals and priorities “We have over a decade of delivering train- with his team for the future. ing and technical assistance on these topics and work with some of the greatest investi- gators and service providers in the world.” 4 SPRING 2018 | HEAMBER T tions and brought to their ar- eas through collaboration with AATTAP and the requestor’s local/partner agencies. “We specifically want to target those communities with at-risk populations and those who have a hard time getting to training or accessing resourc- es, whether it is tribal commu- nities, rural agencies or immi- grant communities that need our training,” said Walters. This goal includes two major initiatives. The first is de- veloping “Train the Trainer” programs for AATTAP’s inves- tigative courses. This involves partnering with agencies such Walters hopes to combine that past experi- as the Bureau of Indian Affairs Police Acad- ence with the latest technology and input emy, state and regional Child Abduction from the National Center for Missing and Response Team (CART) programs and oth- Exploited Children (NCMEC), the FBI and ers, so that more certified instructors can be other child protection partners. He is also trained and thus available to deliver training committed to ensuring critical information at the local level. from surviving family members of missing and abducted children and the investigators The second initiative involves a compre- who worked those cases is carefully inte- hensive review of more than 300 CART grated into evidence-based training. programs trained since 2005. Each team will be evaluated to see if additional training is MORE TRAINING ACCESS needed. Each team will also be encouraged to prepare for and complete the US-DOJ An important focus of AATTAP’s work is to CART Certification process administered by afford everyone equitable access to quality AATTAP. training; regardless of geographic location and work schedule. Walters and his team “I believe strongly we have the ability to want to ensure all those working in child make major improvements in how we protection and everyone concerned with prepare first responders, investigators and family and child safety can get the same lev- service providers for the critical call of an el of information and resources. This is ac- endangered missing or abducted child,” complished by offering eLearning –through said Walters. “These projects, along with our both self-directed/anytime online training as traditional training offerings, can make the well as scheduled live webinar events – and difference when time is critical and training through onsite technical assistance that can and skills are put to the test.” be requested by agencies and/or jurisdic- SPRING 2018 | HEAMBER 5 T FACES OF THE AMBER ALERT NETWORK OHIO AMBER ALERT PARTNER SAYS TRAINING AND COOPERATION ARE THE KEYS TO FINDING ABDUCTED CHILDREN Brent Currence is the Education Coordina- WHO ARE YOUR KEY AMBER ALERT PART- tor for the Ohio Missing Persons Unit and NERS AND WHO IS ON YOUR ADVISORY serves on the Ohio AMBER Alert Steering COMMITTEE? Committee. He is also an Associate for the Our committee is made up of many differ- National Criminal Justice Training Center ent entities including local law enforcement, of Fox Valley Technical College. Currence police chiefs, the sheriff’s association, Ohio retired as a Trooper and helped create the State Highway Patrol, Ohio Attorney Gen- screen for dispatchers and local law en- eral’s Office, Ohio Broadcasters Association, forcement officers to enter an AMBER Alert Ohio Department of Transportation, emer- into the state’s system. gency communications, the FBI and others. HOW DOES YOUR LOCAL AMBER ALERT We all work very well together. That is one PROGRAM WORK? of the nice things about our committee, we Local law enforcement responds to inves- get along very well; nobody tries to domi- tigate, and based on the circumstances of nate the conversation. We are all working the investigation they determine if the case towards the same goal and work well to- meets the AMBER Alert criteria. If they know gether in addressing issues. right away it is going to meet the AMBER Alert criteria, they flag the NCIC entry using WHAT ARE THE TWO BIGGEST LESSONS the AMBER Alert code, which notifies several YOU HAVE LEARNED THAT YOU WOULD different agencies of the requested AMBER WANT TO PASS ON TO OTHER AMBER Alert. The Ohio State Highway Patrol, who ALERT COORDINATORS? issues the alert in our state, would call the The biggest thing is training. So many requesting agency and make sure the crite- people change positions, especially in law ria are met; and if so would then issue the enforcement; you have people coming in alert. Our agency is notified and our state new, others being promoted or transferred, Child Abduction Response Team offers sup- and this all affects knowledge and effective port services and personnel to augment the operations when time is of the essence in investigation. these missing child cases. It is important 6 SPRING 2018 | HEAMBER T AMBER ALERT NETWORK that local agencies know how to activate the celed, or to get others to stop sending the AMBER Alert; and if they do not, they know alerts fairly quickly. who to call to get the process started. WHAT IS YOUR VISION OR PRIMARY Too often time is wasted just trying to GOALS FOR YOUR AMBER ALERT PRO- figure out who issues the alert or who has GRAM? WHAT IS NEXT ON YOUR LIST? what responsibility in the process. Just Our primary focus of concern in issuing AM- knowing a simple thing like ‘How do I get BER Alerts is technology and the software started?’ or ‘Who do I call to get assistance?’ to issue them. It is expensive. It would be can make all the difference. Training, which nice to be able to see the different systems should include making people aware of all talk to each other. When we do cross-state the resources that are out there to help alerts, much of it is done by phone and we them, is the most important thing. AMBER are taking time to email pictures, pass on Alerts are so time-sensitive, and there are information, etc. If there was a system that people out there willing to help in a case could be used by everybody that would be with an abducted child. These resources as simple as looking up and transferring in- can be at the handling agency’s fingertips if formation relating to the alert, it would save they just know who to contact. so much time, which is obviously essential in these types of cases. WHAT ROLE DOES SOCIAL MEDIA PLAY IN AMBER ALERTS IN OHIO? The other issue is training and awareness. Social media is awesome in reaching a I worked in law enforcement for years and tremendous amount of people very quickly. the agency I worked for was thankfully very We obviously use Twitter and the National big on training. I can see such huge differ- Center for Missing and Exploited Children ences in training when working with local administers our Facebook page. I was law enforcement across the state, in terms recently looking at some of the people who of how agencies react to certain situations follow us on Twitter and many of them are and how they do or do not prepare for reporters for television and other media. these through training. Every year in Ohio One of the local reporters had 87,000 fol- our law enforcement officers are required lowers, so when he retweets something to do various types of training, often twice he is immediately reaching 87,000 people a year - such as use of force training, fire- quickly. When I look at the system just arms qualifications, and pursuit driving; yet around Central Ohio, with the number of AMBER Alert training is not required at least reporters in that area who are retweeting annually. I would like to see that happen. an alert, they are reaching nearly 300,000 people very, very quickly. IS THERE AN AMBER ALERT CASE THAT HAD A BIG IMPACT ON YOU AND YOUR In terms of concerns with social media, the OHIO AMBER ALERT PARTNERS? main issue we have encountered is when We had an AMBER Alert occur while we an alert has been canceled yet is still being were at a conference. The alert was in circulated on Facebook or Twitter. In those Northern Ohio in a very rural community. cases, we have been able to get them can- The suspect abducted a 14-year-old girl and Continued on page 16 SPRING 2018 | HEAMBER 7 T AMBER ALERT ON THE FRONT LINES: The suspect wandered onto the Baumann’s ranch and was recognized from the AMBER Alert. LAW ENFORCEMENT IN IDAHO AND NEVADA HELP RESCUE TWO CHILDREN A booby-trapped home, a burning truck had been booby-trapped to start a fire by and an armed, suicidal father high on meth- leaking natural gas. amphetamines sparked Idaho to issue an AMBER Alert and initiate a massive search in That same day the Eureka Sheriff’s Depart- Idaho and Nevada. Joshua Dundon picked ment determined the truck belonged to up his six- and seven-year-old daughters Dundon. Seeing news covera ge of the miss- from school on the morning of May 10, 2017 ing girls, they contacted the Boise Police and then disappeared. Department. The following day hikers saw a 2005 Chev- On May 15, Idaho AMBER Alert Coordina- rolet Silverado rushing up a hill in Eureka tor Dawn Peck of the Idaho State Police County, Nevada. When they hiked back they received a request from the Boise Police called 911 after hearing a gunshot, discover- Department to issue an AMBER Alert. Peck ing the truck was on fire and witnessing a determined the case met the criteria for an man talking to a child hidden in the trees. AMBER Alert. Boise Police Department notified the public “The taking of the children without notice, about the missing father and two endan- the evidence at his home and the burnt-out gered daughters, Jaylynn and Madison, on truck caused the investigating agency to May 13. Officers later received information request the AMBER Alert and I agreed to do Dundon had been in a methamphetamine- so,” said Peck. “Although under the national fueled state of paranoia. They also found a guidelines the girls were missing for well house filled with holes in the walls and that over 12 hours, in Idaho we err on the side of 8 SPRING 2018 | HEAMBER T the children and issued the alert because of mann. “He said he left (his daughters) be- the evidence in the case.” hind. He knew they were not going to make it so he walked in for help.” Peck authorized the AMBER Alert at 1:13 p.m. and it was issued at 1:43 p.m. The alert Searchers started searching the area around was sent to law enforcement, broadcast- the ranch and found the girls 90 minutes ers, highway signs, Emergency Alert System, later hiding under a tree. They were hungry, the state lottery system and to people who bruised and suffering from frostbite. Police signed up to receive alerts by email. had been yelling for the girls but the young- est daughter was so terrified she was afraid Boise Detective Angie Munson had asked to speak. The older Nevada to also issue an AMBER Alert but the daughter finally called state said it did not meet its criteria because out for help. authorities were no longer looking for a vehicle. Authorities learned Dun- don told his daughters “Our public information officer contacted their house had been the media in Nevada and Utah and sent burned down, their dog them a news release requesting coverage of had been poisoned the missing girls,” said Munson. and their mom and the police were trying to kill That same day Eureka County Sheriff’s Of- them. fice organized search and rescue teams including searchers on four-wheelers, Dawn Peck, Idaho horseback and in the air. They found surviv- State Police, Bureau of al gear, weapons and ammunition but not Identification Manager, the father and two girls. Authorities became Statewide AMBER Alert Coordinator more concerned because temperatures were dropping and it was starting to rain. “We were fearful for the safety of the chil- “The girls were incredibly strong and dren,” said Peck. “There had been witnesses showed great courage to survive in the to the truck being burnt and they heard a conditions they faced,” said Eureka County child, but we had no idea where they went Sheriff Keith Logan. “We would like to thank from there or if the children were hurt.” all of the agencies, personnel and citizens who were so instrumental in in helping lo- At 5:30 p.m. an adult male walked into a cate and recover these young ladies.” ranch wearing cutoff sweat pants and a hoodie. He told the owners he needed help. The suspect was treated at a hospital and Vera Baumannn told KTVB her husband booked into jail. The two girls were also recognized the man as the suspect in an hospitalized and received treatment for AMBER Alert and called the sheriff’s office. exposure, kidney failure and frostbite. The AMBER Alert was canceled at 10:02 p.m. “He was very cold, he was hungry, he was Detective Munson said this case showed her thirsty and he could hardly walk because he how AMBER Alerts can be a powerful tool had walked in about two miles,” said Bau- to find abducted children. “It not only helps Continued on page 16 SPRING 2018 | HEAMBER 9 T AMBER ALERT IN INDIAN COUNTRY NAVAJO AMBER ALERT SYSTEM IS NOW OPERATING The Navajo Nation can now issue “In the event we do need to its own AMBER Alerts when a issue an AMBER Alert, we can child is abducted on tribal lands. issue it on (the) Navajo Nation,” The AMBER Alert system is in ef- said Cleveland. fect for the eleven counties that cover the reservation in Arizona The Navajo Nation has not yet and Utah. issued an AMBER Alert, but did issue an Endangered Missing According to Harlan Cleveland, Person Advisory on January 26, Emergency Coordinator and 2018. A man took his 15-month- Acting Director for the Navajo Nation De- old daughter despite not having legal cus- partment of Emergency Management, the tody. The suspect and the child were found system has been live since the beginning of the next morning and two people were 2018. arrested. ‘SAVANNA’S LAW’ PROPOSED AS A WAY TO FIND MISSING WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN INDIAN COUNTRY U.S. senators from New Mexico, North • Improving tribal access to certain federal Dakota, Montana and Minnesota are spon- criminal history record information data- soring the ‘Savannah’s Law’ bill requiring the bases. federal government to take a more active • Creating standardized protocols for re- role in addressing and combating the need- sponding to cases of missing and mur- lessly high rates of violence experienced by dered Native Americans. Native America women. • Producing an annual report to Congress with data on missing and murdered Na- The bill is named after 22-year-old Savanna tive women. LaFontaine-Greywind, a member of the Spirit Lake Tribe of North Dakota. On August The Centers for Disease Control and Preven- 19, 2017, she was reported missing by her tion determined homicide is the third lead- family. Five days later Savanna’s daughter ing cause of death among American Indian was found in a neighbor’s apartment. A and Alaska Native women between 10 and week later, police found Savanna’s body. 24 years of age, and the fifth leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Na- Savanna’s family feels things may have tive women between 25 and 34 years of age. ended differently if police would have taken the missing person report more seriously The Government Accountability Office re- and initiated a more thorough search. port in 2010 found U.S. Attorneys declined to prosecute nearly 52 percent of violent ‘Savanna’s Law’ includes the following ac- crimes that occur in Indian country. tions. 10 SPRING 2018 | HEAMBER T