May 5, 2003
Press Release

Sheriff Brown Attends Presidential Signing Ceremony

Sheriff Mike Brown was honored to accept the invitation to attend the Presidential Signing of the National Amber Alert Bill, The Protect Act of 2003, signed by President Bush in the Rose Garden of the White House on Wednesday, April 30th, 2003.

The Sheriff’s involvement with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, through his Internet Crimes Unit, Operation Blue Ridge Thunder, has garnered much interest from the Whitehouse as the President continues his commitment to protecting children from the evils of child pornography and child exploitation.

The Amber Alert System, which originated in Texas in 1996 after the abduction of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was abducted and murdered, is activated when there is a report of a missing or abducted child. Through pre-empting radio and television broadcasts and transmitting key information on electronic message signs on highways, thousands of citizens are added to the search in the crucial early hours of an abduction.

Also attending the signing of this tremendously important bill were Elizabeth Smart and her parents, John Walsh, founder of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the mother of Amber Hagerman and other families who have suffered the loss of an abducted child.

President Bush thanked members of the Senate and Congress for supporting this bill and getting this bill passed in record time. Attorney General, Jerry Kilgore from Virginia was also recognized and thanked by the President for attending.

Amber Alerts can only be initiated by law enforcement agencies and is intended only for the most serious, time-critical child abduction cases. Bedford County Sheriff’s Office in July 2002 was the first agency in Central VA to be prepared to utilize the Amber Alert System. BCSO was also the first to receive “Lost Child Alert Technology Resource”, LOCATOR for short, which is used to create posters of missing children and also distributes notices electronically throughout the state.

Sheriff Brown and his staff have extended use of this technology for all surrounding agencies should the need arise.

Pictures:
Top: Edward Smart on left, Sheriff, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore on right
Bottom: US Senator Orin Hatch on left, Edward Smart (father of Elizabeth) in center, Sheriff on Right

Contact: Robin Sundquist – Admin Officer – 540.586.4800