Toll-free number announced for Amber Alerts

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department unveiled a new toll-free telephone number available to receive tips when children are believed abducted, (877) 3-KID-SAFE, on January 13, National Amber Alert Day.

The Amber Alert program is an alliance between law enforcement agencies, broadcasters and transportation agencies when a child has been reported kidnapped.

The goal is to alert and galvanize the entire community to assist in the safe recovery of children who are kidnapped.

This telephone number does not replace 9-1-1.

The best resource for an immediate response will always be 9-1-1; however, to provide information and tips to detectives searching for kidnapped children, this telephone number will be the one to call.

San Diego is the first county in California to implement a regional telephone number to be utilized in this manner, allowing for calls to be quickly transferred to the agency of jurisdiction.

To aid in seamless data-sharing, all San Diego County law enforcement agencies are participating in this endeavor.