State of California Missing Person Alerts Program
The California alerts program highlights a strategic partnership between law enforcement, the media, our communities, and other partners to effectively provide the public with actionable information relating to a missing persons and affect a quick, safe recovery. California has four recognized alerts: AMBER Alert, Blue Alert, Silver Alert, and Endangered Missing Advisory (Ashanti Act Compliant). The CHP maintains information for all active alerts in California. This can be found on Twitter at @CHPAlerts or by clicking on the link https:chp.click/alert.
State Coordinator
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) – Emergency Notification and Tactical Alert Center (ENTAC) is the designated state coordinator for missing persons alerts throughout California. ENTAC is staffed 24 hours a day by uniformed CHP personnel and is located at the CHP Headquarters in Sacramento, CA. The CHP is responsible for the activation of all alerts on behalf of investigating agencies in California’s municipalities, counties, and tribal communities. Investigating agencies are encouraged to contact the State Coordinator to receive free California POST certified training regarding all missing persons alerts and available tools and resources.
Together With Our Community We Are Leading the Nation
The CHP is a recognized national leader for missing persons alerts. In 2019, the CHP was the first agency to successfully utilize hyperlinks in Wireless Emergency Alerts for missing persons. This revolutionized the process and provided our communities with immediate, actionable information regarding the emergency message they had just received, including crucial photographs of the suspect, suspect vehicle, and missing person. The response from our communities has saved lives. We have many documented cases of members of our community receiving the alert, acting on the information, and safely recovering the victim. Statistics are important, but the real story is with each name, face, and family we assist. To read success stories Click Here.
Regional Activations
The CHP recognizes the impact emergency alerts can have on the community, both positive and negative. While alerts are a proven method to reach our communities, we recognize that these messages need to be tailored to the individual case. The CHP pioneered the process to activate alerts within the community and geographic region were it is needed most, in contrast to the national standard of blanketed, statewide alert broadcasts. This allows the CHP to get vital information into the hands of our community members who are in the best position to assist, making each person who receives an alert another set of eyes and ears to help safely recover a missing person.
