VIPD holds Amber Alert training summit on St. Thomas

VIPD holds Amber Alert training summit on St. Thomas

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Virgin Islands Police Department hosted a summit for the AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program’s national director and team members on January 14-15, 2025, at the VITEMA Emergency Operation Center on St. Thomas.

The summit included training opportunities for response to high-risk victims, children in crisis and the commercial sexual exploitation of youth. Through this program local and federal law enforcement agencies collaborated, improved skills and developed effective policies and best practices to protect and safely recover missing, endangered and abducted children. There were also discussions on ways to efficiently improve the AMBER Alert System, through the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).

“The National Amber Alert training and technical assistance program were excited to be in the U.S. Virgin Islands, working with our local and federal partners to assess existing response to missing and abducted children, and to look for ways in which the US Department of Justice grant funded program can provide additional training and technical assistance to respond to these cases,” Janell Rasmussen, Administrator for National Amber Alert program, said. “Whether it be a child abduction, endangered missing child, or trafficking case, these children are in danger and need to be recovered quickly. We must come together as a
community to respond. Collaboration, training, and preparedness are critical in the success of recovering these missing children, and we thank our partners in the US Virgin Islands for making this meeting happen and we look forward to our continued work.”

“On behalf of the National AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program, it was an honor to have met with local and federal partners to assess the impact when a child goes missing or is abducted in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Through facilitated discussion, partners shared on their strengths and identified ways to support one another during a crucial event. Their commitment to bringing children home safely was evident. Thank you to our colleagues at Virgin Islands Police Department for paving the way. We look forward to
continued collaboration,” Yesenia Leon-Baron, project coordinator for International and Territorial Programs, said. “This training proved to be an invaluable opportunity for local and federal agencies to come together in a united effort to address the critical issue of child safety. As technology continues to evolve, the importance of disseminating timely information rapidly has become increasingly clear, highlighting its powerful role in saving lives. The session focused on fortifying our emergency alert systems across the territory, ensuring that they are equipped to respond effectively in times of crisis.”

“By implementing the knowledge gained from this training and fostering strong partnerships among agencies, our community stands to benefit immensely,’ Glen Dratte, Director of Communications and Public Relations, said. “It is with deep gratitude that we acknowledge the contributions of the AMBER Alert Training and Technical Team, alongside our federal partners, including Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals, the U.S. Department of Justice. The Virgin Islands Police Department also appreciate the collaboration of the Virgin Islands Department of Justice, Department of Human Services, Virgin Islands Emergency Management Agency – Fusion Center.”