Politicians in East Tennessee draw attention to Silver Alert programs

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — East Tennessee politicians are pushing for more publicity about Silver Alert programs after dozens of Tennesseans were tracked through the alert system this year. More than 60 Silver Alerts have been sent since January, and six in July alone, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said.

In 2021, Republican Senator Becky Massey helped sponsor legislation that would make Silver Alerts a statewide program.

“Before the law, we didn’t have a statewide system,” she said. “(Law enforcement) could have done it locally, but people didn’t know how to file it, so the education part was missing.”

The law established criteria that must be met for an alert to be sent. A person can be “60 years of age or older, whose whereabouts are unknown, and who is believed to be in danger because of age, health, mental condition or physical disability.”

They can also be diagnosed with dementia at any age, making them eligible for a Silver Alert. An alert can also be sent if they are over 18 but are thought to have a disability or impairment.

Alzheimer’s Tennessee provides resources for families of Alzheimer’s patients. President and CEO Janice Wade-Whitehead said their Silver Alerts kit can save time in an emergency.

“Families fill out the forms in the kit. That’s the information law enforcement needs,” Wade-Whitehead said. “And then they’re good to go. They have everything they can share with law enforcement to start the process (of a Silver Alert).”

These kits can save valuable time in an emergency, Massey said.

“When someone is missing, time is of the essence, just like with an AMBER alert,” she said.