Missing Persons Alert Program Marks Milestone

FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) – The Broward Sheriff's Office and a missing children's program marked a very special milestone on Wednesday – the safe recovery of their one-thousandth child.

The "A Child Is Missing" (ACIM) alert program assists police in the search and recovery of not only missing children, but of missing elderly and disabled individuals as well. When an individual is reported missing, the program sends out a robo-call to everyone in the vicinity to alert them of the situation.

During a ceremony at the sheriff's office headquarters on Wednesday, Sheriff Al Lamberti recognized the impact the program has had in finding missing individuals.

"I am very, very proud that this program, which has since gone nationwide, was started right here in Broward County. Today it has spread throughout the country and is operating successfully throughout the United States."

"We have done over 29,000 cases nationwide with over 47 million alert calls going out. We have a staff that's on 24/7 and we are always available to law enforcement," said Sherry Friedlander, who founded "A Child Is Missing."

ACIM can place 1,000 calls in 60 seconds to residents and businesses in the area in which the missing individual was last seen.