SACRAMENTO
– California AMBER Alert author George Runner today joined California
Highway Patrol Commissioner Joe Farrow and others at an event marking
the ten year anniversary of the life-saving program.
“The
AMBER Alert is government at its best,” said Runner. “It protects
Californians, which is the first priority of government, and it’s done
efficiently and effectively.”
Runner
noted that California’s AMBER Alert program has not only saved the
lives of hundreds of abducted children, but has also captured abductors
before they could commit further crimes.
“The
State of California needed a mechanism in place to assist in recovering
our children safe and sound,” said Runner. “I’m pleased to have been
instrumental in the success of California’s AMBER Alert network.
Runner
shared the story of how he came to author the legislation ten years ago
based on a suggestion from a constituent who had learned of the idea
during a visit to Texas, where the first AMBER Alert law was enacted.
He
also recalled the very first California AMBER Alert, which ironically
was issued in the summer of 2002 near his home in the Antelope Valley
area. In that instance, two young ladies were successfully rescued after
a Cal-Trans worker reported a vehicle matching the alert’s description.
According
to CHP, the AMBER alert program has led to the safe recovery of 234
children since it was first implemented statewide in July 2002.
Elected
in November 2010, George Runner now represents more than nine million
Californians as a member of the State Board of Equalization. For more
information, visit www.boe.ca.gov/Runner.