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ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TRAINING BULLETIN Effective Date: March 6, 2025  Amends - TB 03 -1 (December 8, 2021 ) Number : 03-1 Distribution : All Sworn Personnel Review Month: February Reviewing Authority: CID / Investigation Services Section Subject: Florida Alert Plans ( Amber , Blue, Purple and Silver) This training bulletin consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Definitions 3. Procedures 1. Purpose The purpose of this training bulletin is to familiarize personnel with the Florida Amber , Blue, Purple and Silver Alert Plans and establish procedures for activating the plan. 2. Definitions A. Child - anyone under the age of eighteen ( 18). B. Child Abduction - the known taking of a child by an unknown person(s) and believed to be in immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death. C. Family/Parental Abduction - the known taking of a child by a family member . D. Florida Amber Alert Plan (FS 937.021 ) - a program that is designed to broadcast critical information of an abducted child believed to be in immediate danger of serious b odily harm or death using the Emergency Alert System via radio and television. E. Florida Blue Alert Plan (FS 784.071 ) - a plan to aid local law enforcement in the rescue or recovery of a law enforcement officer who has been killed, suffered serious bodily injury, has been assaulted with a deadly weapon, or is missing while in the line of duty under circumstances evidencin g concern for the law enforcement officer’s safety by using the Emergency Alert System and the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Dynamic Message Signs and other highway advisory methods. F. Florida Purple Alert Plan (FS 937.0205 ) - a plan to aid local law enforcement in locating an adult with a mental, cognitive, intellectual or developmental disability other than Dementia or Alzheimer's whose disappearance is a credible threat of immediate danger or seriously bodily harm to themselves . G. Florida Silver Alert Plan (FS 937.021 ) - a plan to aid local law enforcement in the rescue or recovery of a missing elderly person who suffers from irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties by using the Florida Department of Transpor tation’s (FDOT) Dynamic Message Signs and other highway advisory 03-1; Page 2 of 7 methods. H. Runaway - a child who is known to be missing because of voluntary actions on the part of the child. 3. Procedures A. Activation 1. The Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Special Investigations Unit Lieutenant or designee must approve all requests for activation of the Florida Amber, Purple, or Silver Alert Plan by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement ( FDLE ). The Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Major Case Unit Lieutenant or designee must approve all requests for activation of the Florida Blue Alert by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). 2. a. The activation of the Florida Alert plan must be used for the investigation of a known child abduction , missing adults, and serious or killed law enforcement officers. This plan must be used sparingly to confirm future public assistance with this type of investigation. b. Pertinent information will be given to the public (e.g. description of missing/abducted person, vehicle information, description of suspect) 3. The approving Lieutenant or designee shall notify the Communication’s Supervisor of the Amber , Blue, Purple or Silver Alert Activation. 4. Prior to activating the Florida Amber, Blue, Purple or Silver Alert, the approving Lieutenant or designee shall determine if opening the emergency phone banks located within the CID Training Room is necessary . Until opened and adequately staffed, all initial information will be received through the Communications Center . If the phone banks are opened prior to the activation, the appropriate phone number (i.e. 407 -25AMBER, 254 -SAFE, or 254-HELP) can be provided to the community to collect all pertinent intelligence and lessen the impact on Communications personnel . 5. Notify Strategic Communications to assist and coordinate with the media. Release specific, not generalized , information to the public to avoid an overwhelming volume of calls. All information must conform with the activation criteria. If a case does not qualify, an alert should not be activated. 6. Law enforcement must follow the abduction criteria established by FDLE . 7. Assistance and guidance can be obtained from the FDLE Missing Endangered Person Information Clearinghouse (MEPIC) Supervisor for Amber, Purple or Silver alerts, or the FDLE Florida Fusion Center (FFC) for Blue Alerts, if needed. B. Criteria for activation: 1. Amber Alert a. The child must be under the age of eighteen (18). b. Law Enforcement has a well -founded belief, based on an active investigation that a kidnapping has occurred. 03-1; Page 3 of 7 c. Law Enforcement has a well -founded belief, based on an active investigation, that t he child is in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury. d. There must be a detailed description of the child and/or abductor/vehicle to broadcast to the public (photo when available). e. The activation must be recommended by the local law enforcement agency of the jurisdiction. f. This system is n ot to be used for Runaway or Family/Parental