On Friday, May 10th, Mayor Gray announced a new public-safety initiative to aid in the location of vulnerable missing seniors: the District of Columbia Silver Alert Program.
“By implementing The Silver Alert, we join many other large cities that have helped implement this tool for locating missing seniors,” Mayor Gray said. “When family members and loved ones report their loved ones missing to MPD, they can be assured that the resources of the government, including a coordinated alert system modeled after the Amber Alert, will be available to locate missing elderly residents.”
The Silver Alert Program, led by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), will coordinate the response among other District government agencies – including the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMA), the Office on Aging (DCOA), and the Maryland, Delaware and District of Columbia Broadcasters Association (MDCD) – to promptly identify and locate seniors 65 years of age and older who are reported as missing in the District.
Please note that your participation in these Silver Alerts is voluntary. MDCD suggests that each station consult with its legal counsel prior to deciding to participate in the Silver Alert Plan to fully consider any potential legal implications of such participation.