SAFE Alert

Renames the Silver Alert, the Seek And Find Alert, or SAFE Alert, which expands the alert to include missing persons with cognitive disabilities, prohibits the denial or delay of an alert and requires law enforcement agencies to develop and conduct training on the Seek and Find Alert Notification biannually.

The SAFE Alert program aims to establish a notification system that provides immediate information to the public through issuing and coordinating alerts using various resources following a subject "gone missing" when specific criteria have been met.

The goal of the SAFE Alert is to locate the missing person when the SAFE Alert criteria are met through efficient information dissemination and communication that results in safe and expedient recovery.

Arizona SAFE Alert Criteria

As prescribed by A.R.S. 41-1728, specific criteria are established in statute. DPS will issue a SAFE Alert when the investigating law enforcement agency submits a request and have met the following criteria:

Arizona SAFE Alert Criteria

• 1. The person is 65 years of age or older or has been diagnosed with a developmental disability as outlined in ARS 36-551.20, or a cognitive disability as outlined in ARS 36-551.15 or Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
  2. The law enforcement agency investigating the missing person report has used all available local resources. *
  3. Has determined that the person has gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.
  4. Believes that the missing person is in danger because of any of the following:
     • Age
     • Health
     • Mental or physical disability
     • Environment or weather conditions
     • In the company of a potentially dangerous person
     • Or other factors that indicate peril
  5. There is enough information, if disseminated to the public, could assist in safe recovery.
     * Exhaustion of all available resources include:
     • Missing person report entry in NCIC (exception: NCIC entry may be pending if the person was abducted)
     • BOLO’s, APB’s flyers with pictures of the missing person, bulletins
     • Checked Areas:
         Alternate residences
         Hospitals (including VA hospitals if applicable)
         Jails
     • Cell phone location systems (including carrier) and in-vehicle location systems
     • Contacting other family members and friends they may be staying with
     • Contacting Social Worker if applicable

Alert Activation Resources

• 1. Emergency Alert System (EAS): There is no specific code for SAFE Alert activations. However, FEMA has given DPS permission to activate a generic EAS coding that is sent to Arizona broadcasters who may interrupt normal broadcast programming.
  2. Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Vehicle Messaging System (VMS) Boards (only when a missing person is believed to be in a vehicle).
  3. All Points Bulletin (APB): Regular broadcasts to law enforcement.
  4. All Points Bulletin (APB): Regular broadcasts to law enforcement.
  5. The DPS Alerts Website.
  6. The Arizona DPS Mobile Application (for Apple and Android).
  7. Social Media (Twitter and Facebook), Text, and Email.