Maile alert test 08-17-06

HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS SECTION, AREA II
CAPTAIN ROBERT HICKCOX
PHONE: 326-4646, Ext. 263
AUGUST 17, 2006

MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaii marks its one-year anniversary for the Maile Amber Alert.  The statewide plan includes local law enforcement and State agencies.  The MAILE AMBER Alert Plan is a voluntary partnership between the four county police departments, state Civil Defense, the Department of Transportation, the Department of the Attorney General’s Missing Child Center-Hawaii and local broadcasters.  The program was established to notify the public when a child has been abducted and to solicit help in locating the child and abductor. 

On Friday, August 25, 2006, there will be a MAILE AMBER Alert test at >11:45 a.m.> The test will use the Civil Defense Emergency Alert System and will originate from the Hawaii Police Department. The biannual test is being conducted to ensure that equipment and procedures on each island are working properly in case an actual alert is necessary. 

MAILE AMBER is an acronym for Minor Abducted in Life-threatening Emergency and >>America>>’s Missing Broadcast Emergency Response. The program was named in memory of 6-year-old Maile Gilbert of >Kailua, Oahu,> and 9-year-old Amber Hagerman of >>Arlington>, >Texas>>. August 25 marks the 21st anniversary date of Maile Gilbert’s death. Maile was abducted from a party in >>Kailua>> on >August 25, 1985>. Her killer was located several hours later and led detectives to Kaena Point, where he had buried Maile’s body. 

For a MAILE AMBER Alert to be issued in >>Hawaii>> the victim must be 17 years of age or younger and believed to be in a life-threatening situation. Useful information must also be available, such as a description of the suspect, the type of vehicle used in the abduction, and/or the license number. 

The Missing Child Center-Hawaii, a program of the Department of the Attorney General, is the statewide coordinator for the MAILE AMBER Alert program in >>Hawaii>>. The Center also assists with investigations of missing children; coordinates with and assists other government and nonprofit agencies in locating and recovering missing children; assists in training law enforcement, other professionals, and the public on issues relating to missing children; and operates a resource center for information about preventing the abduction and exploitation of children. For further information on the >>Hawaii>>>>’>>s MAILE AMBER Alert program, call the Missing Child Center-Hawaii at 808-586-1449 or the center’s hotline at (808) 753-9797. 

Attorney General Mark Bennett said the state and the Department of the Attorney General are happy to partner with the counties, the federal government, and the community to help protect our children.

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