Montgomery, AL – The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is set to observe National Missing Children’s Day on Saturday, May 25, with a special event aimed at raising awareness and fostering community involvement in the mission to find Alabama’s missing persons. ALEA’s Fusion Center (AFC) will join the City of Montgomery and other local organizations for a Family Fun Day at the Union Station Train Shed in downtown Montgomery from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The Family Fun Day will feature a variety of engaging activities designed to educate families about child safety and the resources available for locating missing children and adults. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with ALEA’s Fusion Center and various local vendors committed to child safety and locating Alabama’s missing persons. This free event is the brainchild of the Riley Relief Foundation, established by Ms. Pam Riley Boldin after her daughter, Laquanta Riley, went missing in 2004.
ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor emphasized the importance of community participation in this initiative, stating, “National Missing Children’s Day is a poignant reminder of the ongoing efforts to reunite missing children, as well as missing adults, with their families. By engaging the community through events like Montgomery’s Family Fun Day, we not only raise awareness but also strengthen the network of support needed to bring loved ones home.”
AFC Director Jay Moseley echoed these sentiments, saying, “We are honored to join the City of Montgomery to share more about the Fusion Center’s mission and its resources. Our collective efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of our children are paramount, and this event represents a critical step in that ongoing commitment.”
The Alabama Fusion Center, a unit within ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), is responsible for issuing AMBER Alerts, Emergency Missing Child Alerts, Blue Alerts, and Missing and Endangered Person Alerts throughout the state. The Alabama Center for Missing and Exploited Children, organized within the AFC, serves as a liaison between citizens, private organizations, and law enforcement officials regarding missing and exploited children and adults.
On May 25, 2021, ALEA launched a new state-of-the-art system known as CodeRED to issue missing person alerts, quickly delivering essential information to citizens throughout Alabama. Citizens can enroll in the CodeRED system by visiting ALEA’s website or texting “ALalerts” to 99411 from any mobile device. This system provides immediate alerts, helping to mobilize community support quickly.
Director Moseley added, “We are extremely grateful for all of our partners who assist in sharing Alabama’s missing person alerts, such as the Alabama Broadcasters Association, and to the citizens who remain vigilant and report tips or information to law enforcement. The public’s assistance is crucial in missing person cases when time is of the essence.”
An example of the system’s effectiveness occurred in January 2024, when an AMBER Alert was issued for two children inside a stolen vehicle in south Alabama. Shortly after the alert was issued, a good Samaritan recognized the vehicle description, reported it to the police, and the children were found unharmed.
“Each year on Missing Children’s Day, we aim to highlight the Fusion Center’s hard work and CodeRED, which is a valuable resource for all communities across the state. We encourage all citizens to consider enrolling in CodeRED if you have not already done so to help make sure every missing person case turns into a success story,” said Secretary Taylor.
For more information about CodeRED and the Alabama Fusion Center, visit https://www.alea.gov.
