Rep. LeGeyt supports ‘Silver Alert’ initiative

State Rep. Tim LeGeyt (R-Canton) on Wednesday threw his support behind an alert system designed to help find senior citizens and disabled adults who go missing.

The bill creating a “Silver Alert” system received unanimous approval. The state Senate had already approved the legislation, which now goes to the governor for her signature, before it becomes law.

Finding adults with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other diagnosed mental disabilities if they wander away or disappear is the end-goal of the Silver Alert system. It is modeled after the Amber Alert system used to build publicity about missing children. Components include broadcasting emergency messages on radio stations.

“This system, which is based on the already proven Amber Alert system, will provide law enforcement agencies with a helpful tool when attempting to locate what are often incapacitated adults that go missing,” said Rep. LeGeyt. “Family members and loved ones can also take some solace in the fact that this system can help find adults who go missing in less time than is usually the case currently.” 

More than a dozen states have Silver Alert programs and legislatures in several other states currently have similar systems under consideration.