The 2007 National AMBER Alert Conference officially began three days ago in Denver, Colorado.  The three and a half day conference is being held at the Grand Hyatt Denver - Downtown.  Among the 370 people in attendance is the Nevada delegation --  Bob Fisher, State AMBER Alert Coordinator and Chair of the State Review Committee; Adrienne Abbott, State SECC Chair; Victor-Hugo Schulze II, Attorney General's Office and State Children's Advocate; Sgt Darrell D. Semper, North Las Vegas Police Department and Crimes Against Persons Supervisor; Robert Chisel, Nevada Department of Transportation, Assistant Director; and Angelo Hafalla, Pyramid Lake Police Department, Police Officer.

Ron Laney, Associate Administrator, Child Protection Division, OJJDP opened the conference early Tuesday morning with a sobering thought, "While we are in Denver this week, 10,000 kids will go missing!" 

Troy Eid, United States Attorney for the District of Colorado cautioned everyone in attendance that, "we are not understanding the scope of violence against our children.  That is the dark side of the internet."   

Cybele K. Daley, Acting Assistant Attorney General thanked everyone for coming and stated, "the AMBER Alert network is continuing to grow.  The impact is far reaching, so much more than we could have ever possibly imagined.  AMBER Alert has become a deterrent; AMBER Alert is a crime stopper!"

Phil Keith, Program Manager for Training and Technical Assistance for the DOJ AMBER Alert Initiative and Fox Valley Technical College recognized those in attendance who were honored by the DOJ at this year's National Missing Children's Day Ceremony in Washington, D.C.  Phil congratulated Bob Fisher for being the recipient of the 2007 National AMBER Alert Media Award.  Later, in her keynote address at lunch, Cybele acknowledged "leaders such as Bob Fisher, who have shown great passion for AMBER Alert."

Nevada was also recognized in the November issue of The AMBER Advocate, published by the OJJDP and U.S. Department of Justice.  The article talks about the "AMBER Hoax" law signed by Governor Jim Gibbons, increasing the penalty for anyone knowingly filing a false police report that results in an AMBER Alert activation.  Violators will be charged with a Class C felony and law enforcement officials believe it will be a powerful tool to protect the integrity of the AMBER Alert plan.

At a general session this afternoon, Bob will be a "presenter" -- talking about available resources for broadcasters, that will enhance the work we do on AMBER Alert's in our states or regions. 

The comprehensive FVTC program includes general sessions, and smaller meetings divided by state, region and discipline -- Coordinators / Clearinghouse; Broadcast / Media; Department of Transportation; and Law Enforcement.  Among the most dramatic programming are discussions of actual case studies, a Victim Families Roundtable, and keynote addresses from Trevor Wetterling (A Sibling's Perspective) and Elizabeth Smart (Survivor - Enduring an Abduction). 

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE 

As a result of this important training and education, the Nevada AMBER Alert Review Committee will establish an Executive Committee to move forward with the following goals in 2008:

1.  Scheduling regular meetings and improving communication.

2.  Finalize the revised and updated Nevada AMBER Alert Plan, which will then be reviewed and approved by the Review Committee. 

3.  Draft a Nevada AMBER Alert Training Module, which will then be reviewed and approved by the Review Committee and followed by the scheduling of training days throughout the state. 

4.  Develop a Endangered Person Advisory, which will then be reviewed and approved by the Review Committee. 

5.  Review "Memos of Understanding," and seek ways to develop better communication, training and testing between / and with our neighboring states.