LANSING, Mich. -- State Representative Gina Johnsen has penned a Silver Alert plan to create a medical alert system for missing seniors and vulnerable adults.
The Portland Republican's 78th House District covers parts of Kent, Ionia, Barry, and Eaton counties. The Portland Republican's legislation would direct the Michigan State Police to create and maintain the system so that law enforcers can respond quickly when a senior goes missing.
"Just like the Amber Alert for children, Silver Alert takes care of watching out for seniors, vulnerable adults. Particularly, we look at the rate of Alzheimer's and dementia, which have increased in our society, " Johnsen said in a phone interview with WOOD Radio.
Under the proposal, rapid alerts would be issued to the public through the same federal Wireless Emergency Alert system used by the Amber Alert. The system would run through the MIchigan State Police. People with a missing loved one would still be able to call 911 or report a missing person at a local police station.
"Using the same infrastructure, this shouldn't cost anything more than what we already use for Amber Alert," Johnsen said. "A local law-enforcement agency receives a qualified Missing Person report, and they contact the State Police to activate the alert. Then, the State Police issue the rapid public notification through the Wireless Emergency Alert system ... and then, people's phones would go off just like Amber Alerts or weather alerts."
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