Police: Help with missing persons cases and requirements for an alert

BOWLING GREEN, Kentucky — A missing person is a scary thing for family or friends, and it’s important to know where to go and the scope of the case.

There are several different alerts at the national and state level that require certain criteria to be met.

Fearing public indifference, the nationwide Amber Alert has been issued sparingly. It warns of a possible kidnapping of a person under the age of 18. The alert contains a range of information such as appearance, possible target, vehicle license plates, and the like.

Travis Puckett, deputy director of the Warren County Emergency Management Agency, told News 40 that this alert is for people who are suspected of being kidnapped and are in immediate danger or are in proximity to a non-custodial person who could harm them.

Puckett also provided some explanations about Kentucky’s Golden Alert and Green Alert.

The Golden Alert, he said, is for people over the age of 18 who have varying degrees of organic brain damage or mental impairment, such as autism or Alzheimer’s, that could lead to them finding themselves in a dangerous situation. It is similar to the Green Alert. The Green Alert is issued for veterans who may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

News 40 spoke with Ronnie Ward, spokesman for the Bowling Green Police Department, who explained that time is of the essence and urged the public to always call and not comment if they see something or think they know something.