Police receive more Amber Alert complaints

Ontario Provincial Police are again dealing with a flood of complaints after an Amber Alert was issued at 3 a.m. Thursday for two missing boys and their grandfather.

“The OPP recognizes the inconvenience the Alert may have caused, but will not apologize for using all of the tools available to help locate a child,” said Staff Sergeant Carolle Dionne, Provincial Media Relations Coordinator.

The three were located about 60kms away from where they were last seen in York Region, on Lake Shore Boulevard in Toronto at 4:30 a.m. by a Toronto police officer.

“The Ontario AMBER Alert program continues to be an instrumental tool in assisting both the public and police with locating an abducted child who may be in danger.”

The decision to utilize the Ontario AMBER Alert is based on established criteria, and is not taken lightly. In 2019, there have been five AMBER Alerts activated. As a direct result of these alerts, four assisted in the safe return of the child/children and one with the apprehension of a suspect.”

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) mandated the broadcasting industry to distribute emergency alert messages, which includes AMBER Alerts.

As of April 2018, compatible wireless networks (wireless public alerting) were included in this mandate.

The only option to not receive these alerts to a mobile device is to have your device turned off. However, if your device is turned off you will be unable to receive any emergency alert that may contain information of imminent danger in your area.

OPP also remind the public not to jam up 911 or any emergency service communication lines with complaints about the AMBER Alerts as it puts health and safety of others at risk.