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Print This StoryMayor's Press Conference Addresses Safety Of Children
Vows To Make Changes To Missing Children Procedures
POSTED: 5:12 p.m. EDT October 23, 2003
UPDATED: 6:07 p.m. EDT October 23, 2003
CLEVELAND -- Mayor Jane Campbell held a press conference Thursday afternoon to discuss both the case of Shakira Johnson and the issue of how Cleveland will handle missing children in the future, reported NewsChannel5's Alicia Scicolone.
Campbell appeared to be upset over the loss of Shakira, but was also determined to find Shakira's killer.
The mayor spoke of the support hundreds of people in the community have given to the Cleveland police and to Shakira's family.
Campbell said the lack of an Amber Alert for Shakira is still on the minds of many, and that's why she's working with Cleveland police to expand the criteria of the alert.
280 children went missing in Cleveland this year, and 279 came home.
Shakira didn't come home, and now, her case will forever change the safety of Cleveland's children.
Cleveland has already begun to make changes in the way the city handles missing children.
Campbell spoke of mobile data computer that will be put into police patrol cars, with the ability to post photographs.
"By the middle of next year, we'll have them in all the front line cars," said Campbell.
Campbell also talked about using a national system called "A Child is Missing", in which a recorded message calls every home in the zip code where the child is missing with a description and information on the case.
To download and print out a child protection form to have on hand in case of an emergency, click here.
Campbell appeared to be upset over the loss of Shakira, but was also determined to find Shakira's killer.
The mayor spoke of the support hundreds of people in the community have given to the Cleveland police and to Shakira's family.
Campbell said the lack of an Amber Alert for Shakira is still on the minds of many, and that's why she's working with Cleveland police to expand the criteria of the alert.
280 children went missing in Cleveland this year, and 279 came home.
Shakira didn't come home, and now, her case will forever change the safety of Cleveland's children.
Cleveland has already begun to make changes in the way the city handles missing children.
Campbell spoke of mobile data computer that will be put into police patrol cars, with the ability to post photographs.
"By the middle of next year, we'll have them in all the front line cars," said Campbell.
Campbell also talked about using a national system called "A Child is Missing", in which a recorded message calls every home in the zip code where the child is missing with a description and information on the case.
To download and print out a child protection form to have on hand in case of an emergency, click here.
Previous Stories:
- October 23, 2003: Questions Raised On Amber Alert System
- October 22, 2003: Northern Ohio Amber Alert Information
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