Silver Alert Notifications
It can be scary when a loved one is in danger or missing. In 2014, Arizona established a law to create an alert system to help find vulnerable adults.
What do I do if I think my loved one has gone missing?
Call 9-1-1 if you believe a loved one is in danger or missing.
What is a Silver Alert?
Silver Alerts are part of Arizona Department of Public Safety's (DPS) emergency alert system. These alerts notify the community when someone over the age of 65 or someone with a developmental disability, dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease has gone missing.
Can I ask for a Silver Alert to be made without involving the police?
Who can a Silver Alert be be issued for?
One or both of the following must be true for a Silver Alert to be made:
- The missing person is 65 years of age or older, or
- They have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, AND
The law enforcement agency believes:
- They have used all available local resources,
- The person is in danger because of age, health, disability, environmental or weather conditions,
- The person may have gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances,
- The person may be in peril or with someone dangerous, and
- Placing a Silver Alert could help in the safe recovery of the missing person.
When a Silver Alert is made in Arizona is it also sent out in other states?
If a law enforcement agency in Arizona thinks that the missing person could be in another state, they may contact that state’s agency in charge of issuing alerts and ask that an alert be made. Not all states have adopted Silver Alert laws.
What happens when a Silver Alert is issued in Arizona?
The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) may do one or more of the following after approving a Silver Alert request:
- Interrupt radio, television, cable, satellite broadcasting with the alert
- Send text message alerts to people in the area where the person went missing or was last known to be
- Notify all law enforcement agencies in the state to be on the lookout for the missing person
- Place an alert on the DPS website and mobile app
- Post on Twitter and Facebook @Arizona_DPS
How long does a Silver Alert last?
Silver Alerts are active in the Department of Public Safety database until the missing person is located.
