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Silver Alert Program

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Blue state of Wisconsin with silver and alert written over it.

Effective August 1, 2014, to protect Wisconsin seniors – the statewide Silver Alert program was written in to law.  Similar to an AMBER Alert, Silver Alerts will go out by email, text message through the Wisconsin Crime Alert Network, Wisconsin Lottery terminals, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), Department of Transportation Dynamic Messaging Boards to notify the public that an adult with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other permanent cognitive impairment is missing. 

Assembly Bill 710

Anyone may subscribe online here to receive Silver Alerts and Crime Alerts for free by email and text. 

Silver Alerts will be issued when the following criteria are met:

  • The missing person is 60 years of age or older;
  • The missing person is believed to have Alzheimer's, dementia, or another permanent cognitive impairment that poses a threat to the individual’s health and safety;
  • There is reasonable belief that the missing person’s disappearance is due to the individual’s impaired cognitive condition;
  • The Silver Alert request is made within 72 hours of the individual’s disappearance;
  • There is sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the missing person.
     

As Alzheimer’s and dementia are not limited to those 60 and older, where individuals are missing and at risk but do not meet the criteria for a Silver Alert, the Wisconsin Crime Alert Network (WCAN) can be utilized to send out a Missing Endangered Person Alert.  With the WCAN, law enforcement officers issue alerts at no cost either by e-mail and/or text message to individuals and business owners.  Anyone may subscribe to the Wisconsin Crime Alert Network to receive alerts. 

Click Here to Sign Up

 

The procedures for law enforcement to request activation of a Silver Alert are contained on WILENET.

RESOURCES IN WISCONSIN FOR ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA

Wisconsin Department of Transportation
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/drivers/driver-forms.htm
BDS225 - "Be Safe, Not Sorry" – Public guide for reporting medically-impaired drivers
MV3141 - Driver Condition or Behavior Report - Reporting medically impaired drivers
BDS345 - "Be Safe, Not Sorry" – Older driver workbook