BY: ABQ RAW staff
POSTED: 10/04/2023 @ 4:15PM
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Albuquerque –
The AMBER Alert system continues to prove its effectiveness in ensuring the swift recovery of abducted children in the Albuquerque area. This critical emergency notification system, named after Amber Hagerman, a young girl tragically abducted and murdered in 1996, has been an indispensable tool in the fight against child abductions.
On October 4th, 2023, the Albuquerque Police Department had its officers and support staff go through a mock abduction at its Reality-Based Training Center. The scenario involved a 16-year-old female who was dating a 19-year-old. They broke up, and the 19-year-old became violent with the family and took the 16-year-old.
Interview with staff HERE:
APD’s Deputy Commander Jay Ratliff of the Special Victims Unit says the tiniest clue can help in the recovery of the child.
“It can sometimes break a case open for us. So being an observer, things of license plates, vehicles, just oddities that aren’t normal in your neighborhood, those things can help us. We’re also in the age of technology. And so when we talk about social media in the representation of how our kids communicate online, just even changes in behavior that way can help us in these investigations as well,” said Deputy Commander Ratliff.
The AMBER Alert system remains a beacon of hope in Albuquerque, demonstrating that with collective effort, we can ensure the safety and well-being of our children. Citizens are urged to stay vigilant, support the system, and remain prepared to respond swiftly to any future alerts, knowing that every second counts in ensuring the safe return of abducted children.