(Photo: CBS)DOVER, Del.- Delaware State Police are supplementing the state's Amber Alert system for child abductions with automatic notifications to cellphones.
The new wireless emergency alert, or WEA, system allows Amber Alert notifications to be sent to compliant cellphones statewide. Previously, cellphone users received Amber Alerts only if they went to the website and chose to participate.
Cellphone users who choose not to receive the Amber Alert can contact their service providers or turn off the notification setting on the cellphone. If the phone is placed in the vibrate mode, the tone will not be heard.
The wireless emergency alert uses a loud notification tone, similar to the emergency alerts on radio and television, accompanied by a text message.
"Time is critical when it comes to finding abducted children," said Sgt. Paul G. Shavack, Amber Alert coordinator for Delaware. "When a child's life is in danger, spreading the word quickly can often mean the difference between life and death. The public's awareness and input acts as a powerful force multiplier for law enforcement and helps tremendously in contributing to the successful recovery of missing and abducted children."
Delaware has issued eight Amber Alerts since it began its program in 2003.
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