I received one of the automated calls from the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office at 1:47 a.m. about the missing child and was very relieved the next morning to read in The Advocate that the boy had been found.Since the article was so brief, I viewed the EBRSO Web site’s public bulletin.
It was quite a surprise that the bulletin stated in part: “We apologize if anyone was inconvenienced.
The system is only utilized when we feel that it is a matter of great seriousness, and we feel that the situation can be resolved using the system, and possibly save a life.
In the case of a possible abduction, time is of the essence in finding a child. Fortunately, today, that was not the case.”
Yes, the call did come during the middle of the night and woke me; however, instead of feeling inconvenienced, I was grateful that our community is blessed with such outstanding protection and concern for the safety of its citizens by aggressively and immediately communicating this young boy’s disappearance.
I spoke to one of the deputies and was told that the boy was actually found BECAUSE of someone who had received one of the calls and had just seen the child.
The deputy also said they were receiving numerous complaints from those feeling inconvenienced by the call and thanked me for expressing appreciation instead.
I wonder if any of the “complainers” would feel the same if it were their child who was missing?
Thank you, EBRSO!
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