DOLGEVILLE, N.Y. (WKTV) - On Monday, the Rome Police Department announced an agreement with a new program to revamp their efforts to find missing children. After training Monday hosted by the Rome Police Department, the Dolgeville Police Department have also formalized an agreement with the "A Child is Missing" Alert Program.

The high tech method is now in place to search locally for missing children, missing elderly (often with Alzheimer's), college students, and missing persons who may be mentally or physically challenged or disabled.

Effective August 18, 2009, upon receipt of missing persons calls, the Dolgeville Police Department will make its first phone call to a toll-free number that rings in Fort Lauderdale, Florida - the national headquarters of the A Child Is Missing Alert Program.

The call, answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by an Information and Mapping Technician, initiates a rapid process of information gathering and use of sophisticated mapping systems.

A Child Is Missing then launches potentially thousands of calls within minutes with an alert message detailing the missing person's description, last known whereabouts, and pertinent information. This alert message will also include a Dolgeville Police Department phone number for use by anyone with information relating to the missing person.

This program is a free service to law enforcement, and Dolgeville Police officials will evaluate each potential activation of the A Child Is Missing Alert Program to ensure the application is appropriate to the case and to ensure the system is optimally used. Policies, procedures, and employee training will also guide the most efficient and effective use of this Alert Program.

Telephone numbers that are called by this program include listed numbers in the selected area, but do not include cell phone numbers, unlisted numbers, broadband/voice-over IP numbers, or TDD/TTY devices.

These numbers can be added to ensure they, too, are called in the event of an alert. To enter your cell phone, unlisted, broadband/voice-over IP or TDD/TTY device number visit www.achildismissing.org and click on "add your name" to enter your name, number, and address. This information will only be used for emergency message alerts.

A Child Is Missing is a nationwide non-profit organization that helps law enforcement agencies locate missing children, missing elderly persons (often suffering from Alzheimer's), college students, and missing persons who are mentally or physically challenged or disabled. A Child is Missing utilizes sophisticated computer mapping systems and trained technicians with the capacity to place 1,000 alert phone calls in one minute to residents and businesses in the area where someone has gone missing. To date the efforts of A Child Is Missing have been credited with more than 585 safe assisted recoveries.

"There have been cases in the past where we didn't have the criteria necessary to request a Amber Alert activation, but we still had a missing or lost person," said Dolgeville Police Chief Howard Lanphier. "I am very happy that we now have another tool to help us in protecting our community."

"I have observed in the past that when we needed help from our community, they respond in a very positive manner. Should there be a lost or missing person in the future, the program will be a success because the people of our community do care and will get involved. I would like to thank the Rome Police Department for providing the training that brought this valuable resource to our attention."