Atlantic City police are now part of a program that promotes best practices in responding to calls for missing, abducted and sexually exploited children.
The department worked with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on their missing children policy to ensure it met the critical elements of the center’s policy for law enforcement agencies.
“I am very proud of our organization becoming members of this great program developed by NCMEC,” Chief James Sarkos said. “Our goal is to arm our police officers and public safety telecommunicators with the knowledge and resources to handle any situation.
“The report of a missing or abused child is of the upmost importance to our agency,” he added. “This training ensures we are following best practices in responding to these types of incidents.”
Every step taken from the moment a child is reported missing until the resolution has the potential to make the difference between a successful recovery or a tragic outcome, police said.
Law enforcement agencies and 911 call centers are recognized for meeting essential training and policy elements demonstrating preparedness for responding to a missing child incident.
All members of the police department and Communications Bureau completed the online training required for membership.
This commitment shows that protecting the lives and safety of children is a top priority for the Atlantic City Police Department, according to a news release.
To learn more about NCMEC and the Missing Kids Readiness Program, go to www.missingkids.org/education/training/missing-kids-readiness-program
