Picayune Police Dept. Chief Jim Luke, has formalized an agreement with the A Child Is Missing alert program that has led to a high tech method now in place to search locally for missing people.

Upon receipt of a missing person call, Picayune Police will now make their first phone call to a toll free number that rings in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. This call, answered 24/7, 365 days a year by a technician at A Child is Missing, initiates a rapid process of information gathering and sophisticated mapping systems which expedites thousands of phone calls within minutes with a customized recorded message detailing the missing persons description and last known whereabouts. The message will also include a Picayune Police Department phone number to be called by anyone who has information regarding the location of the missing person.

A Child Is Missing is a nationwide non-profit organization, which helps law enforcement agencies locate missing children, missing elderly (often suffering from Alzheimer’s), college students, and missing persons who are mentally or physically challenged. A Child is Missing utilizes sophisticated computer mapping systems and trained technicians with the capacity to place thousands of customized-message phone calls in minutes to residents and businesses in the area where someone has gone missing. To date the efforts of A Child Is Missing have been credited with 155 safe recoveries. For more information visit www.achildismissing.org.

“This is just another effort by our department to protect children and missing elderly citizens in our community,” Luke said.