By Jonathan Eberle |
The Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) has announced the launch of a new statewide alert system aimed at helping law enforcement and the public quickly locate missing and endangered individuals under the age of 65. Known as the Turquoise Alert, the initiative officially went into effect on Thursday, July 10.
Created through House Bill 2281 and signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs on May 13, the alert system is formally named “Emily’s Law” in honor of Emily Pike, a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe whose case helped spotlight the need for broader missing persons tools, particularly for Indigenous communities.
“The Turquoise Alert represents a vital step forward in protecting vulnerable individuals in our communities,” said AZDPS Director Colonel Jeffrey Glover. “By empowering the public with timely, actionable information, we can make a critical difference in locating those who are missing and bringing them home safely.”
The alert is designed for cases involving individuals under the age of 65 who have gone missing under suspicious or unexplained circumstances and are believed to be in danger. To trigger a Turquoise Alert, the following criteria must be met: the missing person is under 65 years old; local law enforcement has exhausted all available resources in the search; there is credible concern that the person is in danger or with a potentially dangerous individual; and authorities possess enough descriptive information to assist in the recovery effort.
Once activated, alerts will be broadcast across multiple platforms: Emergency Alert System (EAS); Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to cell phone; Highway signs via the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT); Social media accounts of the requesting law enforcement agency; the AZDPS Alerts website; and an All-Points Bulletin (APB) sent to law enforcement statewide.
Based on data from similar programs, AZDPS anticipates issuing 15 to 30 Turquoise Alerts per year, though that number could increase with expanded public awareness.
The new system adds to Arizona’s existing suite of public alerts, including the Amber Alert, for abducted children; Silver Alert, for missing seniors or those with cognitive impairments; and Blue Alert, for threats to law enforcement.
By establishing a dedicated framework for endangered adults under 65—many of whom previously fell outside the scope of other alert systems—state officials say the Turquoise Alert helps fill a critical public safety gap.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
