The Virgin Islands Police Department hosted a pivotal Amber Alert Summit Tuesday and Wednesday at the VITEMA Emergency Operations Center on St. Thomas, focusing on improving responses to missing and endangered children.
The summit brought together local and federal law enforcement agencies, offering specialized training on handling high-risk cases, child crises, and the commercial sexual exploitation of youth, according to the press release.
The event featured the National Amber Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program team, which collaborated with Virgin Islands officials to refine strategies for safely recovering abducted and endangered children. Discussions centered on enhancing the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System to improve alert dissemination during emergencies, the press release stated.
“The National Amber Alert training and technical assistance program were excited to be in the U.S. Virgin Islands, working with our local and federal partners to assess existing response to missing and abducted children and to look for ways in which the U.S. Department of Justice grant-funded program can provide additional training and technical assistance to respond to these cases. Whether it be a child abduction, endangered missing child, or trafficking case, these children are in danger and need to be recovered quickly. We must come together as a community to respond. Collaboration, training, and preparedness are critical in the success of recovering these missing children, and we thank our partners in the U.S. Virgin Islands for making this meeting happen and we look forward to our continued work,” Janell Rasmussen, administrator for the National Amber Alert program said.
Yesenia Leon-Baron, project coordinator for International and Territorial Programs, praised the summit’s collaborative spirit. “On behalf of the National Amber Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program, it was an honor to have met with local and federal partners to assess the impact when a child goes missing or is abducted in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Through facilitated discussion, partners shared on their strengths and identified ways to support one another during a crucial event. Their commitment to bringing children home safely was evident. Thank you to our colleagues at the Virgin Islands Police Department for paving the way. We look forward to continued collaboration.”
Glen Dratte, director of Communications and Public Relations for the Virgin Islands Police Department, highlighted the summit’s importance in enhancing emergency alert systems across the territory. “This training proved to be an invaluable opportunity for local and federal agencies to come together in a united effort to address the critical issue of child safety. As technology continues to evolve, the importance of disseminating timely information rapidly has become increasingly clear, highlighting its powerful role in saving lives. The session focused on fortifying our emergency alert systems across the territory, ensuring that they are equipped to respond effectively in times of crisis. By implementing the knowledge gained from this training and fostering strong partnerships among agencies, our community stands to benefit immensely,” Dratte said, thanking federal partners such as Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals, and the U.S. Justice Department.
